Hair loss affects many people both men and women; however, male hair loss is the most common. The American Medical Association advises that male pattern hair loss is caused by an increased sensitivity to male sex hormones in certain parts of the scalp. Research shows that this condition is genetic.

There are areas on the scalps of some men that are very sensitive to the male sex hormones. Whilst these hormones circulate in men's blood there are some areas that are more sensitive then others and these hormones make the hair follicles shrink, causing male pattern hair loss. Eventually the hair follicles become so small that the hair that is lost cannot be replaced and whilst the follicles are still alive, they cannot produce hair.

Male pattern hair loss can begin as early in men 20 to 30 years old. This begins with a receding hairline and then gradually the hair on top of the head also begins to thin eventually the two balding spots meet to form a U-shape around the back and sides of the head, in a crown shape. The remaining hair is often finer, and does not grow as quickly as it used to. This pattern of male hair loss is genetically determined by a person’s hereditary history.

The lotion Minoxodil can be used and is applied twice daily to the scalp. The medication Minoxodil was originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure hair growth was found to be a side effect. On this occasion a side effect proved to be a good thing. Minoxodil is available to be purchased over-the-counter and approximately 60 percent of users reported favourable results but when the treatment was discontinued the effects of the wore off.

Hair transplantation a form of plastic surgery may be the only reliable way to replace lost hair permanently. However techniques for restoring hair growth are constantly improving but they are not so advanced as to be the only answer. Some of the techniques available today include, a transplant, where the surgeon moves non-sensitive hairs from the back of the head to the area of hair loss. This is a procedure that many men prefer today and is best for men whose hair loss is limited to the front of the scalp transplants to others parts of the scalp do not tend to take as well. There are many factors to be taken into account before doing this type of operation such as hair color, hair type and hair health. Yet another treatment is scalp reduction, which is a technique that works for men with a small, well-defined bald spot on the top of the head called flap-surgery, making the part of the scalp that still contains hair larger. This only works when hair loss is contained in a small area.

There are many treatments for male pattern hair loss but how to determine which treatment may be right is something that men should discuss with their doctors Medications available that help with male pattern baldness such as Propecia, have proved to be very successful.