Is Hair Loss Hereditary?

Most people are of the opinion that hair loss runs into the family. Children look at their parents who may be balding and assume that this is their future. In a vast majority of cases, hair loss is hereditary, passed down the genes from either side of parentage. Some studies indicate that baldness from the maternal side has a greater chance of it being passed along to a male offspring

Whilst in many situations hair loss does seem to be hereditary, there are, of course, some exceptions to this, but they are not incredibly common.

You may therefore be wondering, what exactly does cause hair loss then? Is it genetically already predetermined that you will lose you hair? The answer is yes, and no! Hair loss is affected genetics but it can be caused by factors that can be controlled or even reversed by outside forces or products.

Hair loss is caused by an increase in DHT in the scalp. A human body is programmed to produce an enzyme known as 5 alpha reductase. When the Androgen hormone in the scalp produces testosterone, which mixes with 5 alpha reductase, it produces Dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is not well received by male (and some female) hair follicles, cutting off blood supply which is critical to growth of new hair.

Thinning and or balding process begins when this occurs, in other words DHT related hair loss.

DHT is not the only cause of hair loss. Dirt and oil on your scalp can also lead to an increase in the rate of hair loss, as can malnutrition and poor circulation. Lucky for you, plenty of products on the market right now can cancel out the effects of these problems and ultimately allow you to keep your hair.

Even if there are many family members who are presently balding, or indeed are bald already, this may not be your future. You can start as soon as possible to take the right supplements and use the right products to prevent any future hair loss. In the long run you will be glad you did. Even if you have already started to lose your hair, there are some great hair loss products out right now that can really turn things around for you and help you re-grow hair you have already lost.

Hair Loss Signs

Most people notice hair loss when looking at themselves in a mirror. It could either be a sudden shock one day or perhaps they have noticed it over a period of time. Sometimes people found out when it is brought to their attention by other people.

Some people will notice hairs on their pillow in the morning or find that after brushing their hair more and more hair is left on their hairbrush or comb.

The thing about hair loss is that it can occur in anyone, men and woman, and at any age. Hair loss is not restricted to middle-aged men.

The Signs of Baldness in Men

Hair loss in men tends to occur on the front hairline and forehead and on top of the head The first sign of hair loss in a man is mainly a receding hairline. This would seem an obvious sign that you may be in the early stages of hair loss but because hair loss is a gradual process, it may take a while before you may notice it or even realise it has happened.

Hair loss can also present itself as thinning hair. It is not noticeable that hair is falling out but you may notice that your hair is getting gradually thinner. This is normal as a result of shrinking hair follicles. You may notice that your hair is getting thinner as the gap between your hairs widens. Widening areas between hairs can slowly reveal more of the scalp and this is an indicative sign of thinning hair which could lead to hair loss and possibly eventual baldness of the crown.

The Signs of Hair Loss in Women

There is generally only one early sign of women’s hair loss and that is thinning hair. Unlike men, women do not experience a receding hair line and rarely will a woman go bald. Hair loss involves the thinning of hair in general, all over the scalp but mainly at the crown. A woman may therefore notice a decrease in the size of her ponytail or the widening of her parting.

Because women’s hair is generally longer than men’s, concerning forms of hair loss can be hard for a woman to detect because even normal hair loss is so obvious. A woman may therefore notice the changes more effectively by looking at her hair brush. If you are noticing more hair on your brush quicker than before, or you find that you have having to clean your brush more often that you used to, this could be a sign that you are losing your hair more quickly.