Losing hair is part of a normal cycle as each hair grows for two to six years then falls out and is replaced by new follicles. There are a number of causes of men's hair loss, according to a report from doctors at the American Academy of Family Physicians. Men lose hair for many of the same reasons as women, which might include medications, disease and genes.
Medications
Men may lose their hair as a result of taking certain medications such as blood thinners, medicine to treat gout, chemotherapy drugs and antidepressants. Most of the time hair growth resumes after men stop taking the medication. Taking an excessive amount of vitamin A also has proven to cause hair loss. Stress can cause hair loss, especially following surgery. While uncommon in men, abnormal hormonal shifts can cause hair loss.
Disease
Various diseases commonly cause hair loss. An overactive or under active thyroid gland can cause hair to fall out more rapidly than normal. Symptoms of certain diseases, such as lupus and diabetes, are associated with hair loss.
Genes
Common baldness, also referred to as male pattern baldness, is an inherited trait. The condition can be inherited from either side of the family, according to a report from doctors at Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration. Permanent baldness results from this condition that is the most common among men. Men begin to see the signs of male pattern baldness as young as their early 20s. The earlier the signs of baldness begin to occur, the more hair a man can expect to lose as he ages. The most common pattern is for the hair to stop growing at the forehead, resulting in a receding hairline. The baldness continues to the top of the head. Other men develop a bald spot on the back top of their head, or the crown, which spreads out from the center.
Hair Care
Men who wear their hair in cornrows for extended periods of time can lose hair from the continual pulling on the follicles. This type of hair loss, called alopecia, causes permanent scarring on the scalp, preventing new hair growth. Using chemicals to straighten or treat hair also can result in permanent hair loss because of the scarring.
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