Whether you’re male or female your genetics help determine how much hair loss you’re going to be dealing with as you age. While there are other causes of hair loss such as stress or medication, genetics cause the particular patterns of male and female pattern baldness. Dr. Richard Goldfarb of the Center for Hair Restoration, a provider of hair loss treatment in Philadelphia, PA, discusses the genetics of hair loss.
Is There a Hair Loss Gene?
There are many rumors around that there’s a specific gene for hair loss. Many people also think that hair loss only comes from the mother’s side. But neither of these are completely true. Experts think that hair loss involves more than one gene. There isn’t one specific gene that’s been found to have control over hair loss.
Also, there are issues with hair loss that are found on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, and men inherit the X chromosome from their mothers. While there are some indicators of genetic hair loss on the X chromosome, that isn’t the whole story. In studies, around 63 genes can have an effect on hair loss, with only six of them being found on that X chromosome.
The Signs of Genetic Hair Loss
Genetic hair loss follows a specific kind of pattern for men and women. With male pattern baldness, it starts to thin in a pattern that starts by the temples. With time, the hairline becomes M-shaped. The hair will thin at the crown of the head as well, but there’s a ring around the sides and rear of the head that usually remains healthy.
The pattern is different in women. Instead of following a specific pattern, hair gets thinner all over the head, but the hairline doesn’t recede. Also unlike males, genetic hair loss rarely leads to a woman becoming completely bald.
Hair Loss Treatment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
At the Center for Hair Restoration, we specialize in the FUE method of hair restoration. This is ideal because it’s minimally invasive compared to other options. There’s no actual cutting, so you don’t have linear scarring or stitches. Your downtime is much shorter than it would be with a different method.
A tiny precision instrument is used to extract one singular donor follicle. It’s then placed in the chosen area while following the natural pattern of your hair growth. Many patients have been satisfied and say that the donor area is hardly noticeable in the course of a few days, and there’s little evidence of the grafting procedure.
Genetic hair loss doesn’t have to be you resorting to baldness — we can help. Call us or schedule an appointment online.
