In the following sections, we’ll outline complementary approaches that may help you deal with male-pattern baldness. The below strategies are not meant to replace your standard medical treatment. Make sure to consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to your day-to-day routine.
Lifestyle
Low-Level Laser Therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is the application of low-power lasers to the surface of the body. It seems to stimulate the production of NO and free radicals, both of which act as messenger molecules to trigger physiological responses such as hair growth [R].
The FDA approved this technique for male-pattern baldness in 2007. Meta-analyses of 11 different placebo-controlled trials suggest that LLLT may improve hair growth and density, both alone and in combination with conventional treatments. However, they warned that larger studies with longer follow-up periods and independent sources of funding are required to confirm these results [R, R, R].
Giving Up Smoking
Several studies have associated smoking with an approximately 2-fold increased risk of male-pattern baldness. Cigarette smoke may cause oxidative and inflammatory damage in the hair follicles, impair hair growth, and reduce female sex hormone levels. A study found that the combination of smoking with being overweight increased male-pattern baldness severity [R, R, R, R, R].
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese has been associated with increased severity of male-pattern baldness [R, R, R].
Scalp Massage
Scalp massage for 4 minutes during 24 weeks improved hair thickness, possibly by increasing the levels of several proteins involved in hair growth, in a small uncontrolled trial of 9 men. In a survey on 340 men with male-pattern baldness, scalp massage improved self-perceived hair density [R, R].
Diet
Eating Sufficient Proteins
In a study of 100 people with hair loss, most of the 34 subjects with male-pattern baldness had deficiencies of the essential amino acids histidine, leucine, and isoleucine. Dietary sources of these amino acids include protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, and legumes [R].
The Recommended Dietary Allowance of protein is 0.8 g per kg of body weight, per day (for both men and women) [R].
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