"Alopecia" or hair loss is something that affects men and occasionally women of all ages; but primarily over the age of 30. In men it typically begins as a receding hairline around the temples, the top of the scalp and backward from the forehead. This manifestation is usually called Male Pattern Baldness.

While the exact cause of this type of hair loss is not known for sure; two things are recognized as significant factors: 1) the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in hair follicles; and 2) a genetic sensitivity to DHT in hair follicles.

As men age, they begin to convert testosterone into DHT. This reacts with the hair follicles and causes balding; although the exact mechanisms of this interaction are still unknown.