Male pattern hair loss is not a serious medical condition. Therefore, treatment is not necessary. In fact, many men choose to let the condition run its course. Patients who are emotionally impacted by the condition, however, may benefit from seeking treatment.

There is no cure for male pattern hair loss. However, there are medications that may be recommended to treat current hair loss and to prevent further hair loss, including:

• Minoxidil. An over-the-counter medication that may be effective at treating male pattern hair loss. Available in liquid form or as foam, it stimulates hair growth by reversing the shrinking process that occurs in the hair follicle. Minoxidil must be used for several months before the patient sees any results. It is available in either a 2 percent or 5 percent solution, with the 5 percent solution being slightly more effective. However, minoxidil does not work for everyone. Persistent use of minoxidil is necessary for hair to grow, as it will most likely fall out once use is discontinued. Minoxidil may also prevent further hair loss because it enlarges hairs and makes them grow for a longer period of time.
  
  
• Finasteride. A prescription medication taken orally (by mouth). It may slow or stop hair loss in some patients. Others may see new hair growth after continued use. Finasteride inhibits the body’s ability to convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that shrinks hair follicles and contributes significantly to hair loss. Like minoxidil, finasteride must be used for several months before taking effect and any benefits derived from the drug stop once use is discontinued.

In addition, medical and surgical treatments are available that may grow hair or slow the onset of baldness. Hair restoration surgery is a popular method that is often effective at creating a hairline that appears natural. Recent technological improvements have helped in creating safer and easier hair restoration techniques than in years past.

These include:

• Hair transplantation. Hair transplantation is the most popular surgical method of hair restoration. It involves transplanting healthy hair follicles from a “donor site” on the back or sides of the head to the bald or thinning area. Hair transplantation produces a natural look in many patients without visible evidence that surgery has been performed.
  
  
• Flap surgery. During a flap surgery, a section of bald scalp is removed and hair-growing scalp is stretched and sewn in its place, with hair growing to the edge of the incision. The size and placement of the flap depends on the individual patient. Flap surgery is designed to cover large areas of baldness.
  
  
• Scalp reduction. A physician performing a scalp reduction procedure removes an area of bald scalp and pulls forward sections of hair-growing scalp to fill in the bald area. Scalp reduction surgery may be used to cover areas at the top and back of the head, but is generally inappropriate for covering the frontal hairline

Men who begin to bald in their late teens or early 20s (premature male pattern baldness) may not be good candidates for hair restoration surgery. Men with this condition may be extraordinarily self-conscious about their appearance and may harbor unrealistic expectations of what hair restoration surgery can do for them. Because hair loss will progress over time, the production of a youthful looking hairline will likely look inappropriate later in life and is generally not advisable. Furthermore, the large amount of donor hairs required may cause the end result to seem unnatural and the patient to be dissatisfied with the results.

In addition, nonmedical methods such as wigs, hairpieces and weaves may effectively disguise hair loss. They may be made with either real or synthetic hair and are often the least expensive treatment method. In some cases, hairstyle changes can also help disguise the condition. However, these methods do not slow or stop the progression of further hair loss.