When Do Men Start Balding?

Are you a man who’s concerned about balding? Wondering when do men start balding, or if it’s an issue you should start thinking more about? We’re here to help!

In this article, we’re covering everything you need to know about male baldness—including what causes it when to potentially expect it, and more information on what you can do to address it. So, you can rest easy knowing you’re as aware as possible about the topic.

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

Did you know close to 60% of men experience some form of hair loss by the age of 35? And more than 80% run into this problem by the time they’re 50.

So, what causes hair loss? Well there are a few things at play. Here are some of the top reasons that men go bald.

Genetics

While the root causes have been fully determined, it’s believed that your genetics and the number of hormones in your body play a big role in whether you go bald. The biggest hormonal impact is dihydrotestosterone or DHT.

DHT is the hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink, weaken, and die. Unfortunately, some people have hair follicles that are more sensitive to DHT than others. And as a result of this hormone, the hair follicles will fail to grow, and you’ll end up with the horseshoe-shaped hair pattern many people see with balding men.

Stress

If your body’s stress hormone level rises, you can begin to gradually lose your hair. This can result in large losses of hair at unpredictable times or loss over a few weeks. Bodily stress caused by immune conditions can also cause extremely rapid hair loss.

And because stress-related hair loss isn’t genetic or hormonal, there isn’t one set way to solve it. The best thing you can do is try to reduce the stress level in your life.

Diet

Are you experiencing hair loss despite not being genetically predisposed to it? Then it’s possible your poor diet is to blame.

If your diet doesn’t include enough vitamins and minerals, you can lose your hair prematurely. You can combat this issue by trying to eat a diet that’s rich in vitamins and minerals, and protein. You should especially aim to have the necessary amount of iron in your diet as a deficiency in that can greatly impact your potential hair growth.

Lifestyle Choices

Similar to diet and stress, your general lifestyle choices can cause hair loss. Drinking too much alcohol and not getting enough sleep can negatively impact your health and cause your body to produce less of the essential hormones it needs to have good hair health. So, if you want to keep yourself (and your hair) healthy try to get enough sleep, eat clean, and avoid overindulging in alcohol.

Drugs and Medication

Most over-the-counter drugs won’t cause you to start to lose your hair. But some of them can negatively impact your hair health. Drugs like retinoids can occasionally cause hair loss, and antidepressants have also been to blame for hair shedding.

And if you’re worried about hair loss, stay away from steroids. Especially testosterone, as this can quickly change into DHT, which was the culprit behind baldness listed above.

When starting a new medicine, talk to your doctor about the potential hair loss. They’ll be able to tell you if it’ll impact your hair, and help you find alternative options if need be.

When Do Men Start Balding?

Now that you know some of the reasons why men bald, you’re probably wondering when this could potentially become an issue. When you may go bald depends on a variety of factors, and balding can occur at any age.

For male pattern baldness, most causes become in your mid to late twenties. And as mentioned above, close to 60% of men experience some form of balding by the age of 30. It generally takes between 15-25 years to go fully bald, but some men can lose all their hair in less than 5 years.

Are you worried you may be going bald? There are some telltale signs to look out for If you’re experiencing any of these hair changes, you may want to start looking into hair loss treatment options.

Changes in Your Hairline

Baldness typically begins with hairline receding. So, if you’ve noticed your hairline has taken on more of a V-shape, you may be at risk.

To determine if this is the case, take a photo of yourself and compare it from an older picture. You can also take a photo every few months to see if your hairline is changing. But keep in mind, lighting conditions and hair products can change the look of your hairline and make it seem worse off than it is.

Thinning Hair

Another sign of balding is thinning of the hair either on your scalp or in certain areas like the crown. And like a receding hairline, you can determine if this is an issue by comparing the thickness of your hair across photos.

Additionally, you may be going bald if you’re experiencing excessive hair loss after brushing or showering. This symptom is harder to track than changes in the hairline and thinning hair. That’s because you can experience temporary hair loss due to things like stress, weight loss, or illness.

What Not to Look For

Not every change in hair loss is a sign of balding. Here are some kinds of hair loss that may not indicate you’re going bald.

Thin Looking Hair

Does your hair look thinner after you shower or put a product in it? That’s probably because your hair is just clumping. So, if you’re going to compare how your hair looks now to past photos make sure your hair is dry and unstyled in both.

Family History

While hair loss does have genetic and hormonal components, that doesn’t mean your hair will look like your dad or your grandfather’s. That’s because scientists aren’t entirely sure how male pattern baldness is inherited. So, don’t panic and assume you’ll bald just because your grandfather did.

Ready to Protect Your Hair?

The idea of losing your hair can be scary. But now that you know the answer to “when do men start balding?” you can better understand what to expect and what you can do to prevent this problem from occurring.

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