Early balding is a good thing

Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine studied 2,000 men aged between 40 and 47, of which half had suffered from prostate cancer.

They were able to link high levels of the male hormone testosterone in those who lose their hair earlier with a lower risk of tumours.

Researchers compared the risk of tumours in those who said their hair had thinned by the age of 30 with those who did not suffer hair loss.

Men who had started to develop bald spots had a 29% to 45% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.

Experts believe that men with high levels of testosterone are more likely to lose their hair, especially if baldness runs in the family.

Prostate cancer sufferers are often given drugs to reduce testosterone levels because they can accelerate the growth of some tumours once they develop.

But this study suggests that high levels of testosterone from a young age might protect against the disease.

Dr Helen Rippon, head of research management at The Prostate Cancer Charity, says: “Clearly, the age at which a man begins to lose his hair is unfortunately not a risk factor for prostate cancer over which he has any control.

“However, if these results are correct, they could be useful in providing us with a greater understanding of how testosterone behaves in the body and how it can affect different tissues.”

By Deepika Dudakia