To see into the future, you often have to look at the past. That is certainly true when it comes to predicting whether you will experience hair loss. While genetics isn’t the only factor that will determine the likelihood of you losing your hair, the odds are pretty good that if your family history includes baldness, the same issue may be in store for you. Pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia, is a hereditary hair loss condition responsible for 95% of hair loss cases.
But when you look around at your next family gathering (which will happen soon, hopefully) and you see a balding parent, grandparent, uncle, or aunt, does that necessarily mean you will suffer the same fate?
The truth is that not all relatives are created equal when trying to determine if you are genetically predisposed to pattern baldness. For men, their maternal grandfather and their dad will be the ones who can give them an idea of what to expect from their hair as the years go by.
Many of the genes responsible for baldness and hair loss tend to come from your maternal grandfather, even though genes from both of your parents and all of your grandparents can also play a role. If your maternal grandfather is bald or is losing their hair, you are a likely candidate for hair loss problems yourself.
The reason that a man’s mother’s father’s genes play an oversized role in predicting hair loss is that men only have one set of X chromosome genes, as opposed to two sets of autosomal genes. For the latter, men can have one set that causes baldness and one that doesn’t, giving them a moderate chance of losing their hair. However, since men only have that single set of x chromosome genes, which they share with their maternal grandfather, a baldness-related gene will be the only one around, and that means a much higher risk of developing androgenetic alopecia.
Call the Miami Hair Institute Today For Your Androgenetic Alopecia Evaluation
While looking at your genetic heritage will give you some clues as to what to expect will happen on your scalp over the years ahead, it is not definitive or a foregone conclusion. Researchers are still studying the interaction of various genetic and other factors that contribute to hair loss. But one thing we do know for sure: we now have plentiful options for addressing hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia. Advancements in medicine, technology, and techniques have made hair restoration more available, more effective, and more convenient than ever before.
At the Miami Hair Institute, we pride ourselves on offering the most innovative approaches to hair restoration, and our surgeons are world-renowned experts in hair transplant surgery and other treatments.
Schedule an appointment with the Miami Hair Institute today by calling 305.925.0222.