Hair Loss, also referred to as balding, is caused by a variety of factors, the most important being heredity. Hair loss runs in the family and is not curable though someday, gene manipulation may lead scientists to a cure. Men with a genetic predisposition to hair loss have areas on their scalp that are especially sensitive to male sex hormones. As men age, these areas and the hair follicles that reside there suffer from a biological imbalance caused by a male hormone called DHT. Slowly, over a period of years, follicles wither and hair becomes thinner and shorter until it can't be seen at all.

Though not curable yet, hair loss in the form of androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness described above) can be treated in various surgical and non-surgical ways. Shampoos like Rogaine work by stimulating the growth of hair, thus counteracting the effects of excessive hair loss. Pills like Propecia are DHT inhibitors, which help keep DHT levels normal so follicles are not flooded with it. There are a variety of other treatment options like transplant surgery, which involves taking follicles from the sides and back of the scalp that are not sensitive to hormones that cause hair loss and redistributing them to balding areas.