What is Genetic Hair Loss

Although genetic hair loss can seem like a curse, it isn’t. It’s inherited from one’s family and is passed down through the generations. You may experience male pattern baldness at the age of twenty-seven, but your twin brother may not! It’s very strange how the gene travels through the family. But the fact remains: it does. Genetic hair loss appears predominately in men, but may also appear in a few select women.

This type of hair loss is inherited through the genetics of genes of one’s mother. With genetic hair loss the reason for balding is not hair falling out but the body’s inability to produce more hair. This is due to the hair follicles going through their normal 25 cycles within a very short time period. This causes the follicles to stop producing hairs much earlier than normal.

The reason that this is referred to as pattern baldness is that the balding takes on a distinctive pattern. Men may notice first a receding hair line and then slowly large patches of baldness, as the hair around the crown of the head thins. Normally, the remaining hair can be found on the sides of the head. Females, on the other hand, bald differently with genetic hair loss. A woman’s hair will thin progressively all over the scalp. Eventually this will lead to baldness.

It appears that even genetic hair loss is in some way influenced by the hormone testosterone. This is because it has been found to be true that men who do not produce testosterone do not experience genetic hair loss. As per the females who experience pattern baldness, most of the women experience thinning hair after menopause. Perhaps this is because their estrogen level has fallen, leaving them more susceptible to the effects of testosterone.

It is important to mention that not all hair loss or thinning hair is an indication of genetic hair loss. Indeed normal thinning does occur with age, however this slight thinning is barely noticeable and does not cause bald patches. Therefore, one should not worry simply because they are losing a few more hairs daily, but should be concerned if they begin to notice thin or bald spaces.

This type of balding is best treated through surgery. Though the best solution is hair restoration surgery, it can be costly. For the male who can not afford this, hair plugs are an affordable alternative.

Genetic hair loss is possibly the most devastating form of hair loss because it is permanent and can cause total balding. It is also quite noticeable; however with today’s medical procedures one with this condition can live a normal life free from ridicule.

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