The Role of Genetics in Hair Loss: What You Need to Know

Not everybody is subjected to hair loss and you’re probably wondering why. What are the reasons that some men experience thinning hair and eventual loss while others will have a thick head of hair into their old age?

Your genetic makeup is possibly the biggest factor in losing hair as your susceptibility to male pattern hair loss is passed down to you from your parents and grandparents. Sons wants to take a look at the role of genetics and hair loss and what you can do to fight it.

Hair Loss and Genetics

Your genetic disposition to losing hair is the biggest contributor to your experiencing hair loss. There are other reasons somebody might lose hair throughout their lives, like severe stress, a poor diet, or treatment they are receiving for an illness, but genetics is the most common reason of all.

If a parent or grandparent possesses the genes for hair loss, it’s possible that it could have been passed down to you. It’s hard to know whether this is the case or not until you first begin to notice the signs of thinning or hair loss.

Male pattern hair loss, technically called androgenetic alopecia, happens to lots of men all over the world but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything that can be done to fight its effects.

How to Treat Male Pattern Hair Loss

The medication you’re likely to be given to fight the signs of androgenetic alopecia is often the same as treating hair loss for other reasons. For example, the course of treatment you might receive for male pattern hair loss could include Finasteride, an oral tablet that should be taken daily to limit the amount of DHT your scalp will be subjected to by restricting the transformation from testosterone into the DHT androgen.

Otherwise, a prescriber might issue you with Topical Minoxidil for you to apply to the affected areas twice a day to revitalise your scalp and its hair follicles by increasing the amount of oxygen and boosting the blood flow your scalp’s blood vessels will receive, thus creating a better environment for hair to grow healthily.

If your genetic makeup is deemed to be the reason for your hair loss, these prescribed medications typically work in around 80% of men who take it for that reason. 

Despite possessing the male pattern hair loss genes, you can still put your hair in a better position to thrive by consuming all the nutrients and vitamins you need. By adding a Biotin supplement or a DHT-Blocking Shampoo to your routine, you can ensure that your body gets enough keratin, which is produced from Biotin, to help maintain strong and healthy hair.

Whether genetics is the reason for your hair loss or not, you can explore more on the subject on the Sons website.

All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.

Posted in: All, Hair loss, Men's Health