Male baldness though associated with the hormone testosterone its onset is triggered by many factors. Common causes of male pattern baldness include those that increase the levels of testosterone in the body as we as some factors that make hair follicles become more vulnerable to this condition. Hair follicles through genetics are predetermined to respond to the presence of testosterone in a particular way that will result in reduced performance of the follicles which may result in gradual thinning of hair. Hair will continue to thin in the presence of increased testosterone, causing baldness. Testosterone, though being involved in male pattern baldness, is not the testosterone that hair follicles are sensitive to, it is a compound called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is formed from the hydrolysis of testosterone in the presence of an enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.

DHT causes shrinking of hair follicles and the constriction of blood vessels that supply hair follicles. This causes hair follicles to show reduced hair growth and even the hair fibers become thinner and much more prone to breakage. However, the response of hair follicles to DHT differs from person to person and is determined by the person's genetics. The actual events involved in this kind of balding are not fully understood. What is understood though is the effect that DHT has on hair follicles and how its effects can be reversed and hair growth brought back to normal.

Some males use drugs that are derived of steroids. Body builders use drugs that contain testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that is associated with muscle development and all secondary masculine characteristics. Injections of the testosterone hormone will increase muscle tone, sporting aggression and performance. The effect that these hormones have on the body is that they elevate the concentration of blood testosterone, increasing the chances of testosterone binding with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase and being converted to DHT.

There are many other factors that can result in the production of higher concentrations of DHT, some of which include drugs and hyperthyroid activity. There are other factors that can be due to mutation or the presence of drugs that will cause the body to release more testosterone which will cause male pattern baldness.

Regular exercise is linked to the slowing down of the development of baldness in males. This is so for regular exercise increases cardiac output in terms of increasing the volume of blood as well as oxygen that is delivered to different body tissues and organs. This will also ensure that toxic substances and cholesterol plaques are removed allowing for good health of all blood vessels. When the blood supply system is tuned up, it allows hair follicles to receive oxygen, allows them to respire normally, get rid of toxins and allow for good hair growth. Excess levels of testosterone in the body are also linked to stress on the brain. In times of stress, the male body tends to release more testosterone. This will increase the chances of testosterone being converted and causing baldness.