Baldness in Men: Are Their Genes to Blame?

For many men, hair loss is the elephant in the room they cannot hide. Sadly, it can affect a huge portion of this demographic.

In the Philippines alone, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development shared that up to half of the guys will experience male-pattern baldness by the time they reach 40 years old.

Fortunately, over the years, this embarrassing condition has become more manageable. Options for hair loss solutions for men have already expanded to include scalp corrective procedures and hair transplants that provide higher success rates and better long-term positive outcomes.
 

Hair transplants can be a lengthy process, particularly during the beginning stages. However, the benefits of this include having permanent hair follicles that can be washed, cut, and dyed once it grows. Nevertheless, it is still important to understand why it happens in the first place, and many experts are pointing their fingers at genetics. Because you should understand how this may affect you, it would be wise to read on to learn more about the causes of hair loss before looking into details like the hair transplant cost leicester (or wherever you intend on getting the treatment).

The Biggest Study So Far

In 2017, PLOS published the result of what could be the largest study on the relationship between genetics and male-pattern baldness.

The researchers from the University of Edinburgh combed through the health and genetic data of over 50,000 males registered in the UK biobank. Their analysis then revealed that there could at least be nearly 290 genetic regions that may introduce the hair loss condition in men.

The scientists, though, said they could have discovered more if they also focused on men who experienced early-onset hair loss.

Note that this isn't the first time that a study found a genetic link. In 2008, McGill University researchers identified two genetic variants that could put 1 in 7 men at risk of developing male-pattern baldness.

Probably the biggest difference between the 2008 and 2017 studies is the scope. The 2008 research focused more on Caucasians. Meanwhile, because the 2017 research was massive, the participants were more likely diverse. It may then suggest that genetics may play a role in the hair loss condition regardless of their race.

Blame It on the Mother?

When we talk about genetics, the question of "Where did I inherit it?" won't be far behind. And some studies, including the 2017 research, seem to have the answer: the mother.

In 2005, the University of Bonn published their study after working with families whose men in their lineage shared the same hair problem. The scientists took blood samples from the participants to determine a possible genetic link.

Like in the above-mentioned studies, the team also found some genetic variants. But perhaps one of the biggest bombshells is the finding that these genes often sit in the X chromosome. Men have X and Y chromosomes, but they always inherit their X from their mothers.

This may explain why many with male-pattern baldness will have maternal grandfathers or uncles who also have the same condition.

Probably, but Not Too Much

However, it may be wrong to point all the fingers at the mom because many factors can still influence the risk of developing male-pattern baldness.

The same 2005 study, for instance, showed that one genetic variant may be associated with the increased number of androgen receptors in the scalp. Androgens are hormones that can shorten the hair cycle. Thus, the hair can fall out faster and grow thinner.

The scientists posit that it's either these men's bodies just produce a lot of these androgen receptors or the genetic variant of the receptor may be more stable.

Further, in 2017, the same university published another study that implied that shorter men may likely to go bald earlier than the others. While this sounds like a pairing that came out of nowhere, experts believe that shorter men with hair loss may have undergone puberty early or prematurely, a phase known as precocious puberty.

The puberty phase is associated with growth spurts, but once it's over, the person also stops growing. Usually, those who enter the stage early may also stop gaining more inches than their peers who experienced puberty at normal ages.

Then there's the interesting gravity theory. In 2013, Dr. Emin Ustuner, a Turkish plastic surgeon, revealed that gravity may explain the differences in the growth of men's hair in their various body parts. He observed that while the hair on the scalp can become thinner, the strands on the genitals and the armpits can become thicker.

He then supposes that gravity may play a role. When men were still young, the scalp has enough fatty tissue to keep the area hydrated. But as the person ages, gravity can pull the scalp's skin down, causing more pressure on the hair follicles.

In the end, one's genes may increase the risk of male-pattern baldness, but it's not the only factor. In fact, a person may avoid the "family's curse" as genes can still behave differently. Plus, there could be other possible causes that can range from an underlying condition to medications, stress, and nutritional deficiencies.