The complete guide to hair regrowth

We’re proud to present XYON Health’s free hair growth guide. Learn about the causes of hair loss, male pattern baldness and what you can do to stop hair loss and regrow hair.

What are the causes of male pattern baldness?

Genetics

Male pattern baldness is an inherited condition. It’s passed down to you through your genetics. Research has shown that men who have balding fathers may be at a 5-6x higher risk of losing their hair. Your genetics affect how your body responds to a male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is related to testosterone. Hair loss triggered by DHT usually involves a receding hair line, as well as balding at the crown or top of the head.

Male Sex Hormones

Your body makes DHT from testosterone. DHT is an essential male sex hormone (androgen), but in some men, high levels of DHT can trigger a process called follicular miniaturization. When this happens, the hair follicles (holes in your scalp that hair grows out of) start to shrink. This can cause hairs to become shorter and more prone to breaking. Eventually, hair follicles could stop producing hair altogether. But there’s hope. In many cases, it’s still possible to regrow hair. Treatments or products that help lower DHT levels can give hair follicles a chance to recover.

What type of hair loss do you have?

Male pattern baldness can look different from person to person, but there are two patterns to keep an eye on: thinning at the front and top of the head.

Receding hairline

For many men, a receding hair line (also called frontal thinning) is one of the earliest signs of pattern hair loss. Over time, the hair line moves further and further back from the forehead and can form an "M" shape.

Thinning at the crown

For some, thinning starts at the top of the head, or the crown. Thinning usually starts as a small spot, growing into a wider circle over time. If your hairline is also receding, these two areas of hair loss could eventually touch each other.

man inspecting his receding hairline in the mirror

Male pattern baldness is very common among men.
It affects about 1 in 5 men in their 20s, 1 in 3 men in their 30s and nearly 1 in every 2 men in their 40s.

Source
Dr. Christina Han

Can male pattern baldness be stopped?

Ultimately, your genes determine whether you’ll develop pattern hair loss. While you can’t stop hair loss from happening, there are ways to slow it down and grow your hair back. Controlling DHT levels is one way.

A licensed doctor or hair loss specialist can work with you to determine the best hair regrowth solution to meet your needs. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christina Han explains how men can get ahead of balding:

Hair regrowth treatments and products

Hair loss doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, your response to treatment may be impacted by how sensitive you are to changes in DHT hormone levels. Here are some options.

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Finasteride
  • The gold standard treatment for pattern hair loss
  • Blocks the enzyme that makes DHT, lowering levels by 60-70%
  • Available in pill or topical form from XYON

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Finasteride + Minoxidil
  • Combines two different medications that target hair loss
  • Finasteride addresses the root cause, DHT
  • Minoxidil helps promote healthy hair growth

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Dutasteride
  • A newer, more potent form of finasteride
  • Blocks the enzyme that makes DHT, lowering levels by 90%
  • Available in topical form at XYON

Learn more

Non-prescription options
  • Potent natural ingredients help target DHT
  • Help with non-hormonal causes of hair loss
  • Support scalp health for optimal hair growth

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Why are there topical options and pill based options?

Both pill-based and topical solutions for pattern hair loss can be effective. But knowing which one is right for you can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to connect with a doctor through XYON to get expert guidance. Read on to learn more about your options for hair growth.

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Prescription Gels

Prescription Pills

Benefits
  • Lower risk of sexual side effects
  • Timed-release technology
  • Applied directly where you need it
  • FDA approved concentrations and dosages
  • Convenient to take
  • Effective for many patients
Ingredients available
  • Finasteride
  • Finasteride + Minoxidil
  • Dutasteride
  • Finasteride
  • Minoxidil
  • Minoxidil + Vitamin D

These do not cause hair loss

To treat male hair loss effectively, you have to get to the root of the problem. Here are some commonly cited causes for hair loss that don’t directly cause pattern balding.

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