This is also called male pattern hair loss, or hereditary hair loss, and it accounts for about 90 percent of all male balding/thinning issues. Most fundamentally, this is a hormonal matter. With men who have androgenetic alopecia, the body converts testosterone into a hormone called DHT, which inhibits healthy hair growth. DHT bonds to hair follicles and disrupts the normal cycle of hair loss and hair growth.

Androgenetic alopecia is easily identifiable by its familiar pattern. Men who have this condition will first notice a receding hair line, and ultimately be left with a U-shaped ring of hair along the back and sides of the head. This is a telltale sign that it’s male pattern hair loss you’re dealing with, and the good news is that there are solutions that work—including laser hair therapy.

You might assume that men’s hair loss is always the result of genetics—specifically, male pattern baldness. Nine times out of 10, that’s true—but there are some other potential factors to consider, as well.