Welcome to my final piece on the reasons one may experience hair loss. The thing I want most is for you to be able to take some control in case your hair begins to thin or fall out. I know how it can feel to be losing more and more hair with no idea why.
Today’s article involves a cause of hair loss that’s certainly more frustrating because it can feel like it’s completely out of your control.
Genetics.
Though mostly thought to only affect men, this type of hair loss – typically just referred to as baldness – can happen to women too.
But it’s not all bad news. Though genetics can play a role in determining how much hair you’ll lose as you age, other factors play a role as well. As such, there are things you can do to mitigate this loss and maximize your hair growth potential.
Though both men and women can be affected by this type of hair loss, it manifests differently in each.
Male pattern baldness typically begins as an m-shaped recession at the front of the scalp. This often begins by age 30, with about 80 percent of men experiencing male pattern baldness by age 80. [1]
Female pattern baldness tends to begin later, typically following menopause. Generally, this manifests as a recession along the part of the hair. By the time they reach the age of 80, around 50 percent of women will experience women pattern baldness. [2]
Androgenetic alopecia is the medical term for this type of baldness. And when it comes to hair loss, it’s the most common cause.
Researchers estimate that genetics accounts for about 80 percent of male pattern baldness. [3]
But that brings me to a myth you may have heard before…
Many people claim that men inherit the gene for balding from their mother’s father and that – if that grandfather was bald – you will also go bald. There is a bit of truth to this, but it’s been taken a bit out of context.
In reality, the genetic component of male pattern baldness involves more than one gene. While one of these genes is inherited from your mother, and it has been found to double the risk of developing male pattern baldness, 63 other genes play a role in baldness. But only 6 of them come from your mother. [4, 5]
Research has found that more than 80 percent of people who have experienced balding had a father who also lost their hair. [6]
When it comes to female pattern baldness, it is still not fully understood how genetics play a role. However, experts theorize that hormones are a component, which would explain why so many women experience hair loss after menopause. [7]
Unfortunately, hair loss as the result of genetics is difficult to avoid and thought to be permanent once it begins.
However, there are things you can do to mitigate its progression.
Healthy lifestyle habits – Eating a balanced diet, sleeping well, managing stress, and routinely exercising will not only support overall health, but the health of your hair.
Medications – If your hair loss is due to genetics, certain medications may help. Coming in the form of both creams and pills, these work by either strengthening hair follicles or preventing things that can damage them.
Hair transplant surgery – Results and types of surgeries vary, but typically this is where healthy hair follicles are taken from somewhere else on the body and transplanted to the bald or thinning areas.
Own it – If you’re losing hair because of genetics, it’s not your fault. From movie stars to models, there are plenty of people who rock hairless heads. Find a style or look that suits your look best and own it. Remember, those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind!
By far, genetics is the most common and natural cause of hair loss. But the good news about it is that – unlike many other causes of hair loss – it doesn’t signify an underlying health problem.
This article concludes my series on the many causes of hair loss. If you’re experiencing hair loss, I hope that this has helped you find some answers to why you may be losing your hair.
You can read my journey from thinning to thick hair by clicking here.
In case you didn’t catch all six articles in this series, I want to link the others below so they’re easy to find!
Just click the title of the article you want to read and enjoy!
The Reasons Your Hair May Be Falling Out: STRESS
The Reasons Your Hair May Be Falling Out: DIET
The Reasons Your Hair May Be Falling Out: SCALP HEALTH