Can Balding Men Still Grow A Moustache?'

Jackson

Question: I have thinning hair which I suspect is down to male pattern baldness (I am 28 and my dad is bald). I want to take part in Movember but have never tried to grow a moustache before and wondered if there's a chance it might grow through patchy or be thin because of my hair loss? What do you think?

Despite signs of thinning, Jude Law has grown a moustache for various film roles

Hi Jackson, don't worry - your ability to grow a moustache is not hindered by having an hereditary hair loss condition.

Male pattern baldness only affects the top of the head, from the crown to the hairline including the temples, and has no bearing on facial hair whatsoever. That's why you often see bald men with beards!

Genetic hair loss is caused by a hereditary susceptibility to the androgen DHT, which is found naturally in the body but has no real use after puberty although it can actually trigger the growth of body hair despite causing hair loss in the scalp. DHT attacks the top of the head and those who are predisposed to male hair loss will find their hair starts to shed, leading to a thinning crown, a receding hairline, or more general thinning focused on the scalp vertex.

Male pattern baldness is the most common hair loss condition and does not affect facial hair whatsoever. However, there are conditions which do cause facial hair loss but these are rarer and would also cause more extreme shedding, with noticeable bald patches. These include Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis which cause hair loss of the scalp and head (including eyelashes and eyebrows), and total hair loss from head to toe, respectively.

From the sounds of it, you should have no problems growing a moustache - best of luck with Movember!