Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss that affects the scalp. Many people struggle with hair loss in one form or another. But is hair loss hereditary? While some types of hair loss are hereditary, not all hair loss is. The following article will help you understand if your hair loss is hereditary and what to do to reverse it.
Please note that the molecular process that leads to pattern hair loss in women is different for men. We’ll explain below how hereditary hair loss occurs in men and women.
What is Hereditary Hair Loss?
There are so many types of hair loss, but what most people mean when they refer to hereditary hair loss is androgenic alopecia. Pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia can affect both men and women together.
Hair follicles are genetically sensitive to androgens (male hormones) in hereditary hair loss. To be specific, DHT is the main element in scalp miniaturization, which is a more potent form of testosterone that the body naturally makes and it has necessary molecular functions in the body.
Unfortunately, the effect of DHT on the follicles is very negative causing them to shorten the growth phase (anagen phase) and prolong the resting phase (telogen phase).
If the process repeats over a long period, the hair follicles will begin to miniaturize, producing thinner, shorter, and less pigmented hair. The hair will eventually reach dormancy, where the follicles no longer produce hair.
Other types of hair loss that are not hereditary include:
- Scarring alopecia: hair loss due to direct injury on the scalp permanently damaging hair loss.
- Alopecia Areata: hair loss due to an autoimmune disorder such as Lupus. This type of hair loss is reversible once you manage your autoimmune disorder.
- Traction alopecia: hair loss due to tight styling and is usually reversible..
Is Hair Loss Hereditary from the Father or the Mother?
Many people wonder how hair loss is inherited. Is it inherited from the father making it paternal or is hair loss inherited from the mother, making it maternal?
Hair loss inheritance, particularly male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), is influenced by both maternal and paternal genetic factors, though it has been popularly associated with the maternal side of the family.
Male pattern baldness is an x-linked chromosome, which men can only inherit from the mother. But women can get two X-chromoses one from the father and one from the father. Despite women having two X chromosomes, the cells randomly switch off one X chromosome during embryonic development and keep one copy eternally functional.
The Mechanism of Hereditary Hair Loss in Men
The genetics of the AR gene is responsible for the sensitivity to androgens like DHT in men. This gene is found on the X chromosome and men inherit it from their maternal line.
The Mechanism of Hereditary Hair Loss in Women
Although androgens still play a role in hair loss in women, female pattern hair loss is more related to hormonal factors than direct DHT sensitivity. Unlike men, women’s hair loss isn’t as directly tied to DHT. Instead, it’s more complicated and involves other hormones and genetic factors.
Specifically, female pattern hair loss is tied to estrogen, the female hormone. Estrogen is crucial for hair development in women because it protects the hair by prolonging the anagen phase (growth phase) of the hair cycle. One research finds that estrogen can control the anagen-telogen transition cycle through anestrogen receptor pathways.
Likewise, estrogen is important in female pattern hair loss through its suppressing effects on DHT as well as reducing inflammation to promote scalp health.
When estrogen levels drop, regardless of the underlying cause, be it natural causes such as menopause or due to conditions that affect hormonal regulation such as thyroid dysfunctions, your follicles lose the protective effect of estrogen.
Are Low Estrogen Levels Always Responsible for Hereditary Hair Loss in Women?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of hereditary hair loss in women. In this condition, women produce higher-than-normal levels of male hormones that counteract the protective effects of estrogen.
How to Stop Genetic Hair Loss?
The treatment of genetic hair loss differs from men to women. In combination with the treatments we will list below, to counteract hair loss you need to support your hair growth with a nutritious diet rich in vitamins like biotin, vitamin D, E, A, and C; as well as omega 3, stress-free life, and delicate hair care and styling.
Treating Hereditary Hair Loss in Men
When dealing with hereditary hair loss in men, there are two stages for your treatment. The first approach is the preventive approach and this works best during the early stages of hair loss. Under the supervision of a professional, you can use DHT blockers like finasteride or dutasteride to lessen the destructive effect of DHT on your follicles. However, these pills can affect your general hormonal balance and lead to unwanted side effects such as erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
The second approach in your preventive treatment is Minoxidil, a vasodilator that you massage onto your scalp as your doctor instructs. Minoxidil increases blood flow to the scalp to deliver more oxygen and nutrients promoting growth.
All the above treatments are not permanent solutions for hair loss, because as soon as you discontinue treatments with these medications, your hair loss will resume.
The final and only way to permanently reverse hair loss is hair transplantation. You can consider hair transplantation in Turkey for successful results and luxurious yet affordable medical care.
Treating Hereditary Hair Loss in Women
If you suspect you have female pattern hair loss, follow up with a professional to run the necessary blood tests that will show any signs of hormonal irregularities. After detecting the particular hormonal imbalance contributing to your FPHL, you can work with your doctor to regulate your hormones.
Some popular options for treatment include DHT-blockers such as finasteride and dutasteride or vasodilators such as Minoxidil (studies show that women respond better to 5% minoxidil treatment). Results will show within 4 to 6 months from starting treatment. And you must remember that consistency and patience are key when treating hair loss.
If you want a more natural approach to regulating female hormones, you can consult a herbal doctor who will recommend plants such as Saw Palmetto or Orthilia Secunda to deal with your specific case.
The important thing is to not start treatment on your own and to have the guidance of a professional doctor throughout.
More severe cases of pattern hair loss in women can find success through hair transplantation, a procedure that permanently implants DHT-resistant hair follicles in the thinning crown hair.
How to Know If My Hair Loss Is Hereditary?
Hereditary hair loss will present in a distinct form for men and women. For men, the hair loss usually begins at the hairline and recedes to the crown. You can use the Norwood Scale to understand how hair loss is characterized.
The image that will best resemble you on the scale, is the stage of hair loss you are currently in. Whether hair loss will stabilize or progress to more advanced stages depends on your genetics and how many DHT-sensitive hair follicles you have.
As for women, the hairline wouldn’t recede the same wait it does with men. However, there will be a general thinning of hair on the crown. You can notice that through a widening middle part for instance.
The Takeaway
Hereditary hair loss is a complicated case that affects men and women differently. For men, DHT sensitivity is the main cause of hair loss, whereas women experience pattern hair loss due to hormonal imbalances rather than a direct effect of DHT.
Dealing with hereditary hair loss can be challenging because it feels like you are working against your genetics. However preventive treatments such as DHT-blockers and vasodilators can help counteract the effects of pattern hair loss.
But you must note that these treatments do not provide a lifelong solution for hair loss. If men want a one-time solution, they can wait until their hair loss stabilizes and opt for hair transplantation. As for women, they can find great success through natural or medical approaches to stabilizing female hormones.
For more information on hereditary hair loss, hair loss treatments, or hair transplants in Turkey; contact our medical specialists. Our professionals can address all your concerns in a free consultation via WhatsApp. You can enter your details here, and we will get in touch with you ASAP.
