Health Tip: Understanding Male Pattern Baldness

Mar. 23 -- (HealthDay News) -- Pattern baldness in men is the most common type of hair loss, and usually involves a receding hairline and baldness on the crown of the head. The condition is usually caused by hormonal and genetic factors.

Hair loss occurs when the hair follicle, a cavity in the skin, shrinks over time, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The individual hair in this follicle then becomes thinner and shorter, until eventually no hair is left in the follicle.

While there are no direct medical complications of pattern baldness, men who are uncomfortable with their physical appearance may opt for prescription medications that may stimulate the regrowth of hair and help reduce additional hair loss.