What Causes Male Androgenetic Alopecia?

• Diseases and Conditions Linked to Hair Loss

Studies suggest that this type of male balding is strongly influenced by heredity, since it runs in families.And even though male AGA typically occurs in older men, genetic research indicates that AGA is different than hair thinning solely associated with the human aging process.^(16, 22)

In addition to genetics and family history, hormones such as testosterone and DHT, are crucial to causing AGA in men. Research suggests that another contributing factor to AGA is inflammation of the hair follicle. Chronic low-level inflammation is associated with moderate to extensive hair loss.^{(22, 88, 89)}

Certain medical conditions can cause also androgenetic hair loss in men. These disorders typically increase androgen activity or decrease pituitary gland hormone activity. They include both hereditary and non-hereditary diseases, such as:⁽³²⁾

• Adrenal tumors
• Adrenogenital syndromes
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Cushing's syndrome
• Growth hormone deficiency
• Hypopituitarism
• Hypothyroidism
• Laron syndrome

Being overweight and smoking increases the severity of androgenetic hair loss in men.⁽³¹¹⁾

Diseases and Conditions Linked to Hair Loss

Male AGA is also clinically linked to a number of conditions. These include:

• Belly fat&⁽³¹⁷⁾
• High levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides⁽³¹⁸⁾
• Hypertension^(317, 319)
• Low levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol)⁽³¹⁷⁾
• Metabolic syndrome⁽³¹⁷⁾
• Prostate cancer (in men with male AGA by age 20)⁽³²⁰⁾

In fact, both men and women with moderate to severe AGA have a much higher risk of death from diabetes and heart disease. Some experts suggest that men with early-onset male balding may want to get screened for cardiovascular disease.^(319, 321)