Is hair loss hereditary?

When It comes to hair loss we get asked a huge number of questions – one of the most popular being, is hair loss hereditary? We see a lot of people who are worried due to other members of the family going bald at a young age.

Today we’re here to talk about hereditary hair loss so that you know all of the facts and don’t have to spend time looking through the rumours and myths online.

What is hereditary hair loss?

Hereditary hair loss is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men, also known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. It is a genetic condition that alters the hair growth cycle, this reduces the amount of time that the hair is actively growing. Most commonly, to begin, hair will recede at the temples and hairline and over time the crown can thin and the hairline can become much higher then it joins up with the patch at the crown – leaving a completely bald scalp.

Where does hereditary hair loss come from?

One of the biggest myths in the hair loss world is that the hair loss gene only comes from the mother’s side. It is believed that hair health comes entirely from your mother’s genes due to baldness being based on the X chromosome. However, you can inherit the hair loss gene from either side of your family. This means, if there is hair loss on either side of your family it could happen to you.

What causes hereditary hair loss?

The progress of hereditary hair loss is dependent on the hair cycle itself and the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a male sex hormone that is related to testosterone and is one of the main reasons behind hair loss. If you’re genetically predisposed to hair loss it’s more than likely because you’re sensitive to DHT.

DHT shortens the hair growth cycle meaning it spends less time in the growth phase and eventually falls out. The hair that replaces the fallen strand tends to be finer and shorter and over time the follicle will shut down and hair will not grow. Meaning over time the hair will go from thick and full to thin and eventually bald. This process is called miniaturisation.

Is there anything I can do to beat hereditary hair loss?

Hereditary hair loss is very much real, however, not everyone who has hair loss in the family will experience it. There is currently no ‘cure’ for hereditary hair loss, it is something that is coded into your genetics and there is no way to alter that. There are, however, a few different things you can do to try and keep your hair as healthy as possible.

Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can help keep your hair healthy and some foods can help to prevent hair loss – take a look at our article, here. Caring for your hair is also extremely important – keeping your hair healthy can help to reduce hair thinning.

Hair loss treatments

For some, you may be past the point of looking at tips to prevent or slow hair loss down. There are several hair loss treatments on the market that could help, from hair loss medication to hair transplantation at the Harley Street Hair Clinic we offer a range of treatment options to help with a range of hair loss types.

If you are concerned about your hair loss and would like more information please contact us today to talk with one of our hair loss specialists. We’ll be able to book you in for a no-obligation consultation.

 

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