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

Not everybody is subjected to male pattern baldness 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 the biggest factor when it comes to when and how much hair you will lose, 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 in 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. 95% of hair loss experienced by all men is caused by male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

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. While it is a naturally occurring condition, it does not mean you have to accept it. Luckily, there are treatments which are clinically-proven to be effective in the treatment of hair loss.

How to Treat Male Pattern Hair Loss

Finasteride is effective in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, because it can prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the androgen responsible for male pattern baldness. DHT aids in the development of male characteristics like body hair during puberty, but after puberty, it can build up on the scalp and cause hair follicles to shrink and eventually die. By inhibiting the enzyme 5α-Reductase (which converts testosterone into DHT), Finasteride has been proven in studies to be effective in 90% of men at stopping further hair loss, by preventing DHT from wreaking havoc on men’s scalps.

Minoxidil can revitalise your scalp and its hair follicles by increasing the amount of oxygen and boosting the blood flow your scalp’s hair follicles, thus creating a better environment for hair to grow healthily.

Take our free consultation for personalised recommendations on treatments for your hair loss.

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

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