Can thinning hair be genetic? Unfortunately, the answer there is yes. There are plenty of factors that can cause baldness for both men and women. However, studies reveal that usually your own genetic composition has something to do with it.
Two Known Genetic Cases
There are two popular genetic types of hair loss. The first one--and perhaps the most common--is alopecia areata. It is an autoimmune disease. This means the immune system of your body prevents the growth of the hair by "destroying" the follicles. The antibodies may affect the hair follicles themselves, while the others will opt for the root sheath, as well as shaft and matrix of the hair.If a person has alopecia areata, he or she will experience patchiness in different portions of the head, though majority will have only one balding portion.
Another type of baldness is known as DHT. It is actually an acronym of a male hormone that is present to men and women: dihydrotestosterone. Other two hormones are androsteinedione and testosterone. The body produces an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase. It is the one responsible in converting testosterone to DHT, which can then weaken the follicles over time as it travels through the blood.
What You Can Do
The downside with genetic hair loss is you are bound to get it. If you notice your immediate family members and relatives getting bald, especially at a young age, there is a huge chance it will occur to you too.Fortunately, you have several ways on how to control it. The most typical solution is hair transplantation. The health care professional will remove hair strands in different parts of your body and use them to cover those balding areas. They may also recommend treatments such as Propecia and Rogaine. They counteract the developments and effects of the hormone.