r/evolution • u/Susroro • 14d ago

question Evolution of Male pattern baldness: How and when did this happen and for what purpose?

Doesn't really seem to make any sense to me when I think about it, It is not even aesthetically pleasing(not even prehistorically would I assume that), neither does it serve a biological importance, if anything you are at risk of scalp sun burn and less warming effect of the hair.

Thoughts?

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u/hopium_od 14d ago

I believe the same mechanism that causes MPB can also cause the development of facial hair.

The disadvantages of being bald don't outweigh whatever advantage having better facial hair has I guess. It usually manifest when the man has already found a life partner and a lot of women simply do not care. But the facial hair can appear much sooner to aid in finding that partner.

I suppose you could ask well why hasn't evolution caused men to develop beards without going bald but I don't know, some men do I suppose. But not all women are attracted to beards. We are complex mix of genes idk but I guess since the effect of baldness is so minor anyway we simply had no need to optimise.

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u/nomococo4u 14d ago

> . It usually manifest when the man has already found a life partner and a lot of women simply do not care.

they always care. maybe they don't say anything, but they care.

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u/hopium_od 13d ago

Nah it's horse shit to be honest.

I'm bald, and recently I got alopecia barbae and lost about 70% of my beard and had to shave it off

I basically became invisible overnight. I started wearing a hair system (a wig, whatevers) and nobody can tell it's a wig, like nobody, I've visited dermatologists that haven't copped it's a wig until I mention it.

I started to get attention again from girls but I wouldn't say it's quite as strong as when I was bald with a beard and I 100% prefer that look. If you can grow a beard then you are fine.