The Hair Loss Center at Plastic Surgery Associates of New York
Facts About Hair, Hair Loss and Hair Loss Treatments
Genes: The Other Key Factor in Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss
Male and female pattern hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia (AGA) because both androgens (andro) and genes (genetic) are involved. Alopecia is a medical term for hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) "runs in families". It is an inherited condition associated with a gene (or genes). Both the testosterone metabolite DHT and the gene for hair loss must be present for AGA to occur. The gene for hair loss makes scalp hair follicles extraordinarily sensitive to DHT, and this sensitivity eventually causes hair follicles to (1) stop producing hair, or (2) produce only miniaturized "peach fuzz" hair. The amount of DHT does not need to be greater than normal for AGA to occur; it is the presence of the gene for AGA that causes DHT to halt growth in hair follicles.
Patterns of inheritance of the hair-loss gene can be unpredictable for the average person. Having a father or uncle with AGA makes it probable-but not certain-that AGA will occur in a son or daughter. Physician hair restoration specialists are familiar with the genetics of AGA and can usually counsel a patient regarding the onset and progression of male or female pattern hair loss.
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