Hair Loss Library

Male pattern hair loss, explained

What's behind a receding hairline and thinning crown, and the two treatments with the strongest evidence — finasteride and minoxidil. Written and reviewed by a licensed physician.

JV
John Venzor, DO · Board-certified Internal Medicine
Medically reviewed · Last updated Jun 2026
The basics

What's actually happening up there

Male pattern hair loss is the medical condition androgenetic alopecia. It's driven by a hormone called DHT, which slowly shrinks genetically sensitive follicles along the hairline and crown. Each cycle the hair grows back finer and shorter, until the follicle stops producing a visible hair at all.

It's the most common cause of hair loss in men by a wide margin. Around half of men show noticeable thinning by age 50, and for many it starts in their twenties or thirties. It isn't caused by stress, hats, shampoo, or anything you did. It's genetics meeting hormones.

Caught early, it responds well to treatment. The two medications with real evidence behind them, finasteride and minoxidil, work by slowing the loss and reviving follicles that haven't fully shut down yet. This library covers how the condition works, how each treatment works, what the side effects really are, and how long it takes to see a difference.

The Hair Loss Library

Eight reads. Start anywhere.

A full walk-through of male pattern hair loss, from the first signs to choosing a treatment and knowing what to expect from it. Each piece stands on its own — read in order, or jump to what you need.

01
Signs of male pattern hair loss
The pattern that sets it apart from other shedding.
02
What causes male pattern hair loss
DHT, genetics, and why it follows a pattern.
03
Hair loss treatment options
Every approach that works, ranked by evidence.
04
Finasteride for hair loss
How it works, who it's for, what to expect.
05
Minoxidil for hair loss
How it works and who it helps most.
06
Finasteride vs. minoxidil
Two different jobs, and why men use both.
07
Finasteride & minoxidil side effects
What's common, what's rare, and what to do.
08
Hair loss treatment timeline
When to expect shedding, then regrowth.
Already know it's male pattern hair loss? See a U.S.-licensed Vyta.co clinician — finasteride from $13/mo, shipped discreetly. No appointment.
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Common questions

Quick answers, before you dig in

The questions men ask most when they first notice hair loss.

See a clinician — from $13/mo
Look at the pattern. Androgenetic alopecia recedes at the temples and thins at the crown while sparing the back and sides. Hair that sheds evenly all over, or comes out in patches, points to something else and is worth a clinician's eyes.
Our symptoms guide walks through the pattern in detail.
Stopped, usually. Partly reversed, often. Finasteride and minoxidil both have strong evidence for halting the loss, and many men regrow some of what was thinning. The earlier you start, the more there is to protect.
They do different jobs, and they work best together. Finasteride attacks the cause by lowering DHT; minoxidil pushes follicles to grow. Used as a pair they outperform either one alone.
Usually the same day. You complete a short online visit, a U.S.-licensed clinician reviews it, and when finasteride is appropriate your prescription ships discreetly to your door — no appointment, no pharmacy trip.
For most men, yes — it's been used for hair loss for over 25 years. A small percentage report sexual side effects, which usually resolve after stopping. A clinician reviews your history first to make sure it's a good fit.

Done reading?
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A U.S.-licensed Vyta.co clinician reviews your history, and when finasteride is appropriate, sends treatment to your door — shipped discreetly, no appointment, no waiting room.

Start a hair-loss visit — from $13/mo Start with the treatment options
U.S.-licensed clinicians FDA-approved finasteride Discreet delivery Often same-day