Currently, there is no way to prevent male pattern baldness from occurring. The causes of male pattern baldness are thought to be complex and are not completely understood. Many different types of hormones play roles in the regulation of scalp hair, but the hormones with the largest effect are the androgens. These contrasting responses to DHT might be explained by genetic differences in the individual hair follicles. Similarly, in men who are balding, genetically determined characteristics of hair follicles in the scalp may cause the follicles to be more likely to degrade in the presence of androgens.
Hair follicles become miniaturized, and the hair consequently becomes thinner and shorter.
The growing phase of the growth cycle becomes progressively shorter, which means more hairs are shed. Although the follicles still have an adequate blood supply, they continue to shrink, and some eventually die. Whatever the exact causes of male pattern baldness may be, it is a hereditary trait. There are multiple genetic factors that influence male pattern baldness. A tendency toward baldness in the men on either the mother's or father's side of a man's family indicates a genetic predisposition to baldness.