The kind of hair loss that runs in families is referred to as “hereditary hair loss,” or androgenic alopecia. Essentially, you are at greater risk of hair loss if you have relatives who have experienced hair loss.
Your overall genetic makeup will affect things such as your age when you lose your hair, how quickly your hair will fall out once you begin losing it and the extent and pattern of your hair loss.
Over time, people who are at risk for hereditary hair loss will experience their hair follicles becoming smaller, while their growth phase becomes shorter and they begin shedding their hair more quickly. As a result, the hair becomes shorter, thinner and, in some circumstances, loses its color earlier.
Men and women have some different experiences with regard to hereditary hair loss. Here is a bit more info from our hair care service in Greensboro, NC.
Male hereditary hair loss
For men, the most common type of hair loss typically begins around age 30, but it can actually begin any time after puberty. It is frequently referred to as male pattern baldness, and typically begins with a progressive thinning of the hairline followed by the development of a bald spot on the crown of the head.
This type of hair loss is believed to be hereditary, and depends on the extent to which the body converts the hormone testosterone into another hormone, dihydroxytestosterone, in the scalp. For 99 percent of men who experience hair loss, that hair loss is hereditary.
There is a fair amount of variety among these men with regard to the extent of their baldness. This, as well as the pattern of hair loss and the rate at which men lose their hair, also seems to be genetically determined.
Female hereditary hair loss
While many women experience some degree of hair loss after menopause, it can also begin occurring to women around age 30, often becoming especially noticeable around age 40. For most women, it involves a pattern of thinning at the top of the head and crown, while the frontal hairline maintains its strength.
Almost half of women will experience at least some small degree of hair thinning by the time they reach age 50, and the extent of this can vary dramatically based on genetics.
Not all hair loss is hereditary
It is important to note that not all hair loss can be pinned on genetics. Some hair loss can be caused by pregnancy, hormonal medicines, chemotherapy, autoimmune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems and scalp trauma.
In some cases, it may be prudent to seek medical advice for hair loss, especially if it is sudden or particularly distressing, or if there are no hereditary factors that could explain it.
For more information about who is at risk for hereditary hair loss and how it typically manifests itself in people, contact Raveen Hair Replacement today at our hair care service in Greensboro, NC and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.