Prevalence of male pattern hair loss in 18-49 year old men.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies investigating the prevalence of male pattern hair loss (MPHL) typically used biased samples of men recruited from clinical populations which may limit generalizability of findings to broader populations. OBJECTIVE: To obtain an updated and improved estimate of the occurrence of MPHL in healthy men residing in the community. METHODS: Community-based sample of healthy men aged 18-49 years participated in a study investigating the effects of MPHL. Participants completed a brief questionnaire self reporting degree of hair loss, general health-related quality of life (HRQL) and hair-loss-specific measures. A trained observer also rated each participant using standardized classification for MPHL. RESULTS: The proportion of men with moderate to extensive hair loss (type III or greater) was 42%. The proportion of men with moderate to extensive hair loss increased with increasing age, ranging from 16% for men 18-29 years of age to 53% of men 40-49. Twelve percent of the men were classified as having predominantly frontal baldness (type A variants). CONCLUSIONS: MPHL, especially frontal baldness, may be more common than previously reported.

Effects of self-perceived hair loss in a community sample of men.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have quantified the psychosocial effects of hair loss using standardized instruments in men not seeking treatment for hair loss. OBJECTIVE: Examine self-perception of hair loss and its effects on men from the community. METHODS: Men 18-50 years of age recruited without regard to hair loss, from households near Dayton, Ohio, completed a questionnaire assessing self-perception of hair loss, satisfaction with hair appearance, hair-loss-specific effects and general health status. RESULTS: Men with greater hair loss had more bother, concern about getting older, perceived noticeability to others and greater dissatisfaction with their hair appearance than men with less hair loss. These effects decreased with age for men with hair loss, but regardless of age, perceived noticeability of hair loss increased monotonically with degree of hair loss. CONCLUSIONS: Men with greater hair loss report more negative effects due to their hair loss across all age groups, but the effects were more pronounced in younger men.