Male-pattern baldness

Alternative names:

alopecia in men; androgenic alopecia in men; baldness - male; hair loss in men

Symptoms:

• absent hair or hair loss
• receding hairline
  • hairline recedes from the front toward the back over time

• thinning of hair
• loss of hair at the crown of head
• progression of hair loss in a typical "M"-shaped pattern which eventually results in a loss of hair over the top of the head, and a horseshoe ring shape to remaining hair

Signs and tests:

Classic male-pattern baldness is usually diagnosed based on the appearance and pattern of hair loss. Hair loss that occurs in an atypical manner may be caused by other medical disorders.

A skin biopsy or other procedures may be needed to diagnose other disorders that cause loss of hair. Hair analysis is not accurate for diagnosing nutritional or similar causes of hair loss.