How to tell if you have male pattern baldness

Have you noticed your hairline creeping backwards? Or perhaps the hair on the crown of your head looks a little thinner than usual? Noticing the first signs of hair loss can be both worrying and frustrating, and you’re probably wondering what's going on.

The most common reason for hair loss in men is androgenic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness. But could this be the reason for your hair loss? And is there anything you can do about it?

What is male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness is the most prevalent type of hair loss in men, affecting as many as half of all men over 50 (1). However, it doesn’t happen overnight. The changes are gradual, starting with subtle thinning around your hairline and crown. This progressively worsens until the entire area between your temples and crown is balding (2).  

Therefore, you may notice the first signs of baldness much sooner, often in your twenties or thirties (3). The earlier you notice the first signs, the better your chances of stopping hair loss and maintaining your hairline for as long as possible (4).

What are the signs of male pattern baldness?

Men with male pattern baldness typically lose their hair in a recognisable pattern, which helps differentiate it from other causes of hair loss. Knowing what this looks like can help you spot the signs early and consider treatment options sooner.

So, what does male pattern baldness look like? In general, hair loss starts with a receding hairline, especially at the temples, followed by thinning at the crown of the head. Over time, these two areas merge, leading to more noticeable hair loss across the top of the scalp. Eventually, you will have no hair on the top of your head (5).

Doctors often use the Norwood scale to describe how this hair loss progresses (6). This can be a helpful way to understand whether what you’re seeing in the mirror matches male pattern baldness:

• Stage 1: Little or no hair loss or recession at the hairline.
• Stage 2: The hairline starts to thin and recede at the temples.
• Stage 3: The receding hairline becomes more noticeable, forming an “M” or “U” shape.
• Stage 4: Hairline recession continues to deepen, and you start to lose hair at the crown.
• Stage 5: Hair continues to thin at the hairline and crown and may start to connect.
• Stage 6: Balding at the hairline and crown merge, with little hair left on the top of the head.
• Stage 7: Complete hair loss on the top of the head and only a thin band of hair remaining around the sides and back.

If this progressive pattern seems familiar and you think your hair loss matches one of these stages, it could be a sign of androgenic alopecia.

What causes male pattern baldness?

Whether or not you develop male pattern baldness is largely down to your genes and whether it runs in the family (7). One study on identical twins found that genetic factors accounted for 80% of all cases (8). So, if any male relatives have experienced hair loss, there’s a higher chance you might too.

But it isn’t all down to your genes. Hormones also play a big role, specifically levels of a male hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is a by-product of testosterone that binds to receptors in your scalp and gradually shrinks hair follicles. As these follicles shrink, the hair becomes thinner and shorter, until it stops growing altogether (9).

Do I have male pattern baldness?

Even if you know male pattern baldness symptoms and how this type of hair loss progresses, it’s not always easy to know if you have androgenic alopecia if you’re in the early stages. To help, here are some practical signs you can look out for:

• Your hairline is slowly starting to recede, especially at the temples.
• You’re thinning at the crown, even if you only notice it in photos.
• Hair loss runs in your family, particularly on your dad’s side.
• Your hair feels finer or weaker than it used to.
• The change has been gradual, not sudden.
• You haven’t been ill or under major stress recently.

If two or more of these sound familiar, there’s a chance you have male pattern baldness.

Could it be something else?

Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men, but it’s not the only one. If you’re not sure whether your hair loss ticks the boxes for androgenic alopecia, here are some other types of hair loss in men it could be:

• Telogen effluvium: This temporary hair loss is triggered by things like illness, stress, or major life events. Unlike male pattern baldness, you might notice hair coming out in clumps and with no clear pattern. Hair often grows back once the underlying issue is resolved (10).
• Alopecia areata: This autoimmune condition causes sudden, patchy hair loss, often in round or oval bald spots. Like male pattern baldness, it can affect the scalp. However, it can also affect the beard or other areas, and usually comes on quite quickly (11)
• Medication or health-related hair loss: Some medications and medical conditions (like thyroid problems or iron deficiency) can cause hair thinning or shedding (12). If you’ve started a new medicine recently and have noticed hair loss, it’s worth speaking to your doctor.

When is hair loss treatment appropriate?

Correctly identifying which hair loss you have is important. Some types of hair loss are reversible and resolve themselves on their own without treatment. Others, including male pattern baldness, are permanent, and treatment might be preferred to slow hair thinning and promote regrowth.

If you have male pattern baldness, below are some of the clinically proven treatments available:

• Minoxidil: Minoxidil helps increase blood flow to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It’s available as a topical lotion or foam (like Regaine) or as a 2.5mg minoxidil tablet. Studies show both application methods are equally effective (13).
• Finasteride: Sold as Propecia or generically, finasteride tablets work by lowering DHT, the main hormone linked to male pattern baldness. This slows hair loss and, in many cases, can encourage hair regrowth (14).
• Dutasteride: Dutasteride (Avodart) is another DHT-blocking hair loss pill. It works similarly to Finasteride and lowers levels of DHT in the body (15). It’s available as a branded treatment or more affordable generic Dutasteride capsule. We only consider Dutasteride treatment in those who have not achieved results with Finasteride first.

These treatments don’t work for everyone, and results vary, but the earlier you start, the more likely they are to help. Some treatments can also be combined (for example, using minoxidil with a DHT blocker like Finasteride or Dutasteride) to target male pattern hair loss from different angles.

Before you start any treatment, you should have a consultation with a healthcare professional to ensure the medication is suitable for your hair loss. At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we offer a range of regulated hair treatments and online consultations, so you can find the option that works best for you.

Contact our team if you’re still unsure whether treatment is appropriate for you.

Citations

1. Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male Androgenetic Alopecia [Internet]. Nih.gov. MDText.com, Inc.; 2016.
2. Gupta M, Mysore V. Classifications of patterned hair loss: a review. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery [Internet]. 2016;9(1):3.
3. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Male Pattern Hair Loss (Male Androgenic Alopecia): Summary. [Internet]. NICE. 2022.
4. ‌York K, Meah N, Bhoyrul B, Sinclair R. A review of the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2020 Feb 17;21(5):603–12.
5. British Association of Dermatologists. Hair loss male pattern (androgenetic alopecia) [Internet]. www.bad.org.uk. 2024.
6. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. How should I assess a man with hair loss in primary care? [Internet]. NICE. 2025.
7. ‌NHS Choices. Hair loss [Internet]. NHS. 2019.
8. Hagenaars SP, Hill WD, Harris SE, Ritchie SJ, Davies G, Liewald DC, et al. Genetic prediction of male pattern baldness. Noethen MM, editor. PLOS Genetics [Internet]. 2017 Feb 14;13(2):e1006594. ‌
9. Ho CH, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2019.
10. British Association of Dermatologists. Telogen effluvium [Internet]. www.bad.org.uk. 2020.
11. British Association of Dermatologists. Alopecia areata [Internet]. www.bad.org.uk. 2021.
12. Mounessa J, Caravaglio JV, Domozych R, Chapman S, Dellavalle RP, Dunnick CA, et al. Commonly prescribed medications associated with alopecia. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology [Internet]. 2023 Jun 1 [cited 2023 Nov 10];88(6):1326-1337.e2.
13. Randolph M, Tosti A. Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology [Internet]. 2020 Jul 2;84(3).
14. Zito PM, Bistas KG, Syed K. Finasteride [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022.  
15. Al-Horani RA, Patel P. Dutasteride [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.