Where Does Receding Hairline Come From?

Where does receding hairline come from? As the name suggests, it is receding hair that starts to recede on the hairline (typically front hairline, temple). It is identically with male pattern baldness (MPB), though sometimes it has nothing to do with MPB (in rare cases)!

If it is linked to MPB, over time it will cause M-shape on the front of the scalp. Thinning on the crown may also occur, which then eventually it may lead to horseshoe shape or even baldness (see this picture)!

Does front hairline recede with age?

Yap, front hairline (especially in men) is likely to recede as the age particularly true for those with male pattern baldness. In other words, age can be a risk factor of receding hairline.

In general, hair loss is one of common signs of aging, too. In the U.S, about 50 million men suffer from hair loss. Even almost everyone experience some hair loss with aging.

Your hair is constructed of many protein strands. Each hair has its own life cycle (phases of growing, resting, and falling out). A single strand of hair will have about 2-6 years of normal life. Then it goes to the resting phase and eventually will fall out (replaced by a new hair). In addition, your gene also has a role to determine the thickness and amount of hair on your scalp.

The age can also affect the rate of hair growth. As we get older, it’s quite normal to have smaller hair strands with less pigment. Eventually there may be more many hair follicles that stop growing.

The early sign of MPB such as receding hairline is usually noticed at lately twenties or early thirties. However, in a few cases it can occur earlier, too – such as before the age of 20! And many men will experience partial /nearly bald by the time they are 60 years old.

Even if you have a family history of MPB, it’s also not easy to predict when the problem will come. For instance, just because you have a family member with baldness in 60s, this doesn’t definitely mean that you will also have it at the age of 60s.

It is true that MPB is hereditary, though it is also not always linked to genetic trait. But this doesn’t mean that the progression of your hair loss will be as quickly as your first degree relative (such as your parents) did!

Age and genetic trait have a significant role to affect your risk, but there are also other factors. Your chance to have receding hairline more quickly may also involve the following factors:

1. Your stress level.
2. Poor diet.
3. If you take certain medications that worsen your risk of hair loss.
4. And even some bad behaviors such as smoking or poor sleeping habit.

Can wearing a hat cause a receding hairline?

Again, many times receding hairline is an early sign of MPB, particularly true if it gets worse over time. Some lifestyle factors may have an effect on your risk of developing MPB, but mostly it is likely associated with genetic trait, age, and male hormone.

It’s thought that there is a link between androgens (male hormones, especially one called dihydrotestosterone or DHT) and MPB. Men who are genetically at higher risk of MPB (those with a family history of MPB), their hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT. High amount of DHT may cause serious damage to their hair follicles, causing partial /complete baldness as they age.

If your receding hairline does have a connection with DHT, some treatments are available for coping.

For instance, propecia is a common recommendation to cope with the early sign of MPB such as receding hairline. It can help address the production of DHT in your body so thus your receding front hairline can be controlled. See more about propecia in this section!