Hair & Scalp
Progressive thinning at the hairline, temples or crown driven by inherited sensitivity to androgens.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Male-Pattern Hair Loss
Maybe your hairline looks a little higher at the temples in recent photos, or a barber mentioned the crown is getting thinner. Noticing it can be a jolt, and you're in good company: male-pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in men.
It comes down to genetics. In some men, the follicles at the hairline, temples and crown are sensitive to DHT, a hormone made from testosterone. DHT gradually shortens each hair's growing phase, so hairs come back finer and shorter over time. Your hormone levels are usually completely normal; it's the follicles' sensitivity that matters. The encouraging part is that starting care early gives you the best chance of keeping the hair you have and helping it look thicker.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The condition reflects an inherited sensitivity of scalp follicles to androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. In affected follicles this signalling shortens the growing phase of the hair cycle and progressively miniaturizes the follicle over successive cycles. Genetics play a central role, and family history on either side may be relevant. Aging tends to make the process more apparent. Circulating androgen levels are usually normal, so the difference lies mainly in how sensitive individual follicles are.
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
At your consultation, we'll go over when you first noticed changes, your family history, medications and general health, and examine your scalp and hair pattern, sometimes with magnification (dermoscopy) to look for follicles that are getting smaller. If the picture isn't clear, we may suggest blood tests or other checks. Then we'll design a hair plan around your pattern, how soon you'd like to see a difference, and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Daily scalp care supports the follicles your treatment is working on. A gentle shampoo and a scalp serum chosen for thinning hair keep the scalp clean and comfortable, sun protection on a thinning scalp protects the skin, and good sleep, nutrition and stress care support healthy hair growth. Our team can recommend a routine for you, and our professional hair and scalp products are available in our online shop.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
Your plan depends on your goals and the stage of your hair loss. Medical therapies, topical and oral, are often the foundation. Our Hair Restoration program adds regenerative and energy-assisted treatments to support density, including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), performed by our experienced physicians, and Alma TED, a needle-free scalp treatment delivered by our senior laser technicians under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame. Many men combine treatments with good scalp and general health, and each option's timeline and results are explained on its technology page.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Medical assessment is particularly important if hair loss is sudden, patchy or comes out in clumps, if there is redness, scaling, scarring, pain or itch, or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, weight change or other health concerns. These features can indicate causes other than pattern hair loss, some of which are treatable and time-sensitive. Early evaluation is generally more useful because established follicle loss is harder to reverse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the time it reflects an inherited sensitivity of scalp follicles to androgens and is a normal, common pattern. Hair loss that's sudden, patchy or comes with other symptoms can have a different cause. We'll check for that at your consultation so you have a clear answer.
Yes. Several evidence-based medical and in-clinic options aim to slow progression and help you keep the hair you have, and results vary from man to man. The right choice depends on your health and goals, and we'll go through them with you.
Treatment works with follicles that are still active, which is why earlier care helps most. There are options across a wide range of situations, and an in-person exam lets us show you what's realistic for your scalp.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
