Hair Loss In Men

Dr. Buinewicz exclusively employs the standardized and most widely used androgenic alopecia classification system—the Norwood Male Pattern Baldness Classification Test—for diagnosing hair loss in men due to this condition. The system categorizes hair loss in men from androgenic alopecia into one of seven grades or types.

Type I

This grade of androgenic alopecia is marked by minimal and symmetrical hairline recession.

Type II

This grade is indicated by asymmetrical hairline recession, as well as some receding at the temples.

Type III

Patients classified with this grade have a deeply receding hairline and may also have thinning or sparse hair density on the crown of their head—putting them into the sub-category of Type III Vertex.

Type IV

Known as “advanced baldness,” this type is indicated by significant hair loss in men on the front hairline and crown, though a healthy strip of hair may remain on one or both sides of the scalp.

Type V

A more severe stage, Type V androgenic alopecia is known for advanced hair loss in men along the hairline, on the temples, and on the top of the head. A healthy strip of hair typically remains between the thinned areas on the crown and along the overall hairline.

Type VI

If only a small strip of hair grows between the thinned or sparse areas of the crown and the temples, this severe hair loss in men is classified as Type VI.

Type VII

The most severe stage of male pattern baldness, this grade of hair loss in men leaves patients with only a narrow, horseshoe-shaped band of hair that runs along the nape of their neck and back of the scalp.

There are various types of hair loss in men, all of which can be linked to a number of factors, not just heredity. In addition to androgenic alopecia, there are multiple other causes of hair loss in men, including chronic illnesses (viral or bacterial), infections (bacterial or fungal), chronic conditions (such as lupus, anemia, thyroid disorders, malnutrition), rapid intentional weight loss, certain medications or medical treatments (such as chemotherapy), hormone shifts, stress, thyroid conditions, poor diet and nutrition, an overactive nervous response, and personal grooming or style habits. Some of these factors cause temporary hair loss in men including thinning or balding of the hair, because when they resolve—for example, after finishing a round of medications or an infection clearing up—the hair regrows on its own.

Some causes of hair loss in men require a combination of approaches. Traction alopecia, for instance, is hair loss related to the constant wearing of tight hairstyles. Changing your hairstyle can help, especially if done early enough. More severe cases, where the follicles have already sustained lasting damage, require a different treatment, such as surgical hair restoration.

Other causes of hair loss in men include trichotillomania (a disorder characterized by impulsively pulling out hair), loose-anagen syndrome (a condition marked by hairs that are easily and painlessly pulled from the scalp by brushing and other common activities), alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder resulting in baldness on the scalp and body), and scarring alopecia (resulting from injury, surgery, and other trauma that damages the skin and follicles).

In some instances, bald or thinning patches of hair will regrow naturally without the need for medical treatment, but if you experience lasting hair loss, Dr. Buinewicz can recommend a course of treatment that will bring fullness back to your crown and hairline.

Modern hair restoration procedures are more advanced than ever before, giving men fuller crowns and hairlines that follow the natural cycle of hair growth. Most importantly, when compared to conventional hair transplantation methods, such as scalp reduction, tissue expansion, and flaps, modern men’s hair loss solutions involve fewer risks and provide better aesthetic outcomes with greater satisfaction and at a lower cost.