Is Hair Loss Genetic? Does Baldness Come From Mother or Father?

Hair loss, which is also referred to as alopecia androgenic, is a widespread condition affecting many people globally. Whether it’s a receding hairline or thinning patches, these symptoms can manifest due to several reasons such as genetics, hormones, aging, stress, sickness, or even certain medications and external influences.

While hair loss may target the scalp or other body parts, it might be either a temporary issue or an enduring one. It’s not just a physical concern, either; it can have profound effects on a person’s self-confidence, self-assurance, and emotional stability.

Male pattern baldness and androgenetic hair loss could be stimulated by either inherited factors like baldness genetics or acquired factors that impact the hair follicles, which are the tiny structures responsible for hair production.

Is baldness genetic? Does baldness come from mother or father? These are common questions that we’ll address in this article. We’ll explore the role of the balding gene, causes of androgenetic alopecia in women and men, and more.

So, let’s take a look at the hair loss facts that impact your looks!

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What is Hair Loss

The ordinary shedding of hair is an accepted part of growing older, but some individuals may find themselves confronting excessive or untimely hair loss that is not connected to the natural cycle of hair growth and shedding.

Many people notice hair thinning or bald spots called as hair loss as they grow old. Hair loss, also known as alopecia androgenic, can affect people at different stages of life.

It may be due to factors like genetics, hormones, aging, stress, medical conditions, or even the medications you take.

Hair loss genetics play a significant role, especially when it comes to the most noticeable type of hair loss on the scalp.

Here are common hair loss types:

Androgenetic Alopecia: Often referred to as male or female pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia is the most common type. Balding gene and hormonal elements combine, affecting hair follicles. Men may experience a receding hairline or hair thinning on the crown, which are typical signs of male pattern baldness. Women may face a diffuse thinning of hair. The genetics of male pattern baldness make it more prevalent in men, but androgenetic alopecia women can experience it too.
Telogen Effluvium: A temporary hair loss type, this occurs when many hair follicles rest and then fall out. Triggered by stress, illness, surgery, or medication, it often resolves within a few months.
Alopecia Areata: This autoimmune disorder causes patchy bald spots. It’s an example of where the bald gene comes into play, affecting anyone at any age, more often in children and young adults.
Traction Alopecia: Harsh hairstyles or chemicals can lead to this hair loss type, causing permanent damage if not treated early.

Male vs Female Pattern Baldness

Hair loss is a common experience, with approximately 85% of men and about 33% of women encountering it at some point in their lives.

What causes androgenetic alopecia in men and women? The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), derived from testosterone, binds to receptors in hair follicles, making them shrink and produce thinner hair. Over time, this leads to baldness.

Though both female and male pattern baldness fall under the category of androgenetic alopecia, there are differences in the pattern and progression of hair loss between men and women.

Pattern: Men typically lose hair at the temples and crown, whereas women often see a widening of the parting line or overall thinning.
Progression: Male pattern baldness can lead to complete baldness, while female pattern baldness rarely does.
Age of Onset: Male pattern baldness may begin in the late teens or early 20s, whereas female pattern baldness often starts later, around the 40s or even later.

Is Baldness Genetic? Understanding Hair Loss Genetics

When it comes to the question, “Is balding genetic?” or “Where does the bald gene come from?”, the answer is complex.

We inherit genes from our parents in form of DNA and these genes determine different traits like hair color and mutations in them can also cause many diseases like Breast cancer or Diabetes.

Baldness hereditary factors, such as the bald gene play a role in hair loss, but they are not the sole cause. As with many other things controlled by genetics there are many players at stake.

The Balding Gene Explained: Androgenetic Factors in Hair Loss

There isn’t a single bald gene that causes baldness or androgenetic alopecia in men and women.

Instead, multiple genes influence the susceptibility to hair loss. One of these genes is AR (androgen receptor), which is part of the androgenetic hair loss process. It’s located on the X chromosome and codes for a protein that connects with DHT, affecting hair follicles.

Different variants of the AR gene affect its sensitivity to DHT. Some variants increase the risk of baldness genetics, while others are protective.

But the AR gene isn’t the only factor. Research has found many genes, including 63 that may influence male pattern baldness, and only six are found on the X chromosome.

These genes affect various biological functions like hair growth, inflammation, hormone metabolism, and stem cell regulation.

Multiple Genes: Hair Loss Gene Complexity

The genetic side of hair loss is polygenic, meaning that it involves several hair loss genes interacting with one another and with environmental factors like age, hormones, medications, stress, and nutrition.

Some studies have used techniques like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic variations associated with hair loss.

One such study looked at data from over 52,000 men, finding over 250 genetic loci related to severe hair loss. This study even created a prediction algorithm to assess the risk of hair loss with 78% accuracy.

Another study using data from over 20,000 women found 12 genetic loci tied to female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia in women, with some overlap with male baldness genes, showing common genetic factors.

So, how baldness is inherited is influenced by many genes that vary in effect and interaction. Genetic testing can provide insight into the risk and severity of androgenetic alopecia, but it cannot give a definite answer.

What causes androgenetic alopecia is a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors that all contribute to hair loss.

Understanding alopecia androgenic factors is essential for those questioning, “Does baldness come from mom or dad?” and wanting to know more about hair loss genetics, baldness hereditary aspects, and male baldness gene factors.

Mother or Father – Understanding the Genetics of Baldness

Who Do You Inherit Your Hair Loss From?

Many wonder why some individuals lose their hair while others retain a full head of it. The explanation can be found in your genetics, specifically the units of hereditary information that you receive from your parents. But Does baldness come from your mother or father, or perhaps both?

The Myth of Maternal Inheritance of the Balding Gene

It’s a popular belief, almost a myth, that hair loss genetics are passed down to men from the mother’s side. However, this isn’t “entirely” accurate. This notion comes from the fact that the first major player identified was found on X chromosome and men gets X chromosome only from mothers. But now we know hair loss genetics is not so simple.

The truth is more intricate and involves many different genes related to baldness genetics.

These baldness hereditary genes can come from both your mother and your father and can interact with each other and environmental factors to determine your pattern of hair loss.

As a result, it’s not easy to predict your balding pattern solely based on family history. You may have inherited a unique combination of the baldness genetics that makes you more or less prone to hair loss than your relatives.

Other Things Than Genetics That Causes Balding?

Balding isn’t only a matter of genetics, but also a complex interaction with various lifestyle and environmental factors that can affect your hair health. Let’s dive into some of these factors:

Diet: What you consume plays a significant role in hair growth and retention. Eating a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes your hair follicles and can prevent hair loss genetics from taking effect. Conversely, diets lacking essential nutrients or filled with sugar, fat, or processed foods can lead to balding by causing inflammation and hormonal imbalance.
Stress: Stress is a substantial factor in balding, possibly triggering or worsening the condition. Stress can cause your hair follicles to enter a premature resting phase, leading to excess shedding. It can also affect your immune system, resulting in alopecia areata, a condition causing patchy hair loss.
Smoking: Smoking can lead to male pattern baldness by shrinking hair follicles and affecting androgenetic alopecia. It reduces blood flow to the scalp, depriving hair follicles of oxygen and nutrients. Smoking also harms the DNA of hair follicles, making them prone to aging and falling out.
Pollution: Exposure to pollution can affect your hair, exposing it to toxins that accumulate on your scalp, causing irritation and weakening hair structure. Questions like “where does the bald gene come from?” become complex when considering environmental factors like pollution.
Medications and treatments: Certain treatments can cause temporary balding as a side effect, including chemotherapy, steroids, blood thinners, antidepressants, birth control pills, and acne medications.
Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormones can affect hair growth and shedding, especially in women after menopause, pregnancy, or childbirth. Both men and women may lose hair due to thyroid problems that alter hormone production. This could be tied to androgenetic hair loss or androgenetic alopecia in women.
Alopecia areata: An autoimmune condition leading to patchy hair loss, possibly triggered by stress, infections, or genetic factors.
Other medical conditions: Diseases or infections like ringworm can cause hair loss, as can physical injury to the hair or scalp, such as burns or cuts.
Certain hairstyles: Hair styles that cause tension or pressure, such as tight ponytails, can lead to traction alopecia, another form of hair loss unrelated to the bald gene.

To sum up, balding is not solely about baldness genetics or the bald gene but is multifactorial. It’s crucial to consider overall health and well-being, understanding how various factors interact with the genetics of male pattern baldness and other types, to prevent or slow down balding.

How to Slow Hair Loss

Many people worry about hair loss as they get older, especially if they see it happening in their family. Genetics and hair loss are connected, and this might lead you to wonder, “Does baldness come from mom or dad?” In some cases, the answer is yes.

But besides genetics, male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, several other things can affect how much hair you lose. Here’s how you can slow down hair loss:

Eat a Healthy Diet for Your Hair: Hair needs adequate protein, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and other nutrients. Eggs, nuts, beans, spinach, carrots, and salmon are good sources. Avoiding crash diets ensures your body doesn’t lack the essential elements needed to prevent hair loss.
Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Habits: In addition to eating well, getting proper sleep, reducing stress, and exercising regularly helps the overall health of your hair. These habits affect blood circulation, inflammation, and hormones, which are key to the hair growth cycle.
Consider Hair Loss Medication: Medications like minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) can prevent or reduce hair loss. Minoxidil, a topical solution for balding areas, and finasteride, an oral medication, work differently but need to be used continuously.
Massage Your Scalp Regularly: Scalp massages improve blood circulation, delivering nutrients to hair follicles. This can also reduce stress, which is linked to hair loss. Using natural oils like coconut oil enhances the massage benefits.
Avoid Harsh Treatments and Styles: Harsh treatments like bleaching, perming, straightening, and tight styles can damage hair and cause it to fall out. Gentle care and protective products like heat protectant spray or leave-in conditioner can minimize this.
Protect Your Hair from Environmental Damage: Sun and pollution can make hair dry and discolored, affecting the growth cycle. Using a hat or products with sunscreen or antioxidants can protect against these factors.

If you’re finding that the regular ways to slow down hair loss aren’t working, or if your hair loss is severe or advanced, you may want to think about other ways to restore or improve the look of your hair. This might include:

Hair Transplantation Surgery: This surgery moves hair from one part of your head to the areas where balding is happening. There are two kinds of surgeries: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). FUT takes a strip of skin from the back of the head and makes grafts with one to four hairs each. FUE takes individual hair follicles using a small device. Both need local anesthesia and might cause scarring or swelling. The results are permanent but may take months to show.
Laser Therapy (Red Light Therapy): This is a non-surgical treatment that uses low-level laser light to boost hair growth in areas with hair loss. The light might increase blood flow and reduce inflammation, helping with androgenetic hair loss or loss from chemotherapy. More research is needed on laser therapy’s effectiveness, and it usually needs several sessions. Some side effects might include scalp irritation.
Platelet-rich Plasma Injections: This treatment uses your blood platelets to help hair growth in areas with hair loss, such as in cases of androgenetic alopecia in women or men. Platelets, parts of your blood, contain elements like cytokines that can stimulate hair growth by increasing blood supply and reducing inflammation. Like laser therapy, its effectiveness needs more understanding, and it usually needs several sessions with potential side effects like pain or bruising.

By using these preventive steps and treatment options, you might be able to keep your hair loss under control and maintain strong and healthy hair.

If you’re noticing sudden or excessive hair loss, make sure to see a doctor to rule out any other causes like alopecia androgenic or other medical conditions that might need treatment.

FAQs

Can Baldness Genetic Skip a Generation?

Baldness is not determined by a single bald gene. Rather, hair loss genetics is complex phenomenon, involving multiple genes inherited from both parents. So, you may get some genes that heighten your risk of baldness from one parent but not the other, or even genes that protect you from balding. This means that baldness hereditary traits can skip a generation, or several generations, depending on how these genes are transmitted in your family.

If Your Dad is Bald, Will You Be Bald?

This isn’t an easy question to answer because the balding gene isn’t solely from your father; you inherit genes from your mom as well, which can also influence your hair growth. However, more than 80% of people who experience noticeable balding have a father who lost their hair. Baldness can be from both parents, but there’s often a strong paternal link.

Does Baldness Come from Your Maternal Grandfather?

There’s a widespread belief that men inherit the male baldness gene solely from their mother’s father. While not always true, there’s some truth to it. Since the AR gene, which influences baldness, is on the X chromosome, men can inherit this bald gene variant from their maternal grandfather. But with many genes potentially influencing male pattern baldness, you can also inherit hair loss genetics from your maternal and paternal side.

Can You Stop Genetic Hair Loss?

Unfortunately, genetic hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is permanent and can’t be reversed. But, you can slow down hair loss through treatments like:

Minoxidil (Rogaine): A topical medication for both men and women with genetic hair loss, enhancing blood flow to hair follicles.
Finasteride (Propecia): An oral medication for men that blocks an enzyme leading to hair loss.
Spironolactone (Aldactone): An oral medication for women with genetic hair loss, not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Laser Therapy: A non-invasive treatment for men and women with genetic hair loss.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: A procedure to stimulate hair follicles, increase thickness, and improve growth.

At What Age Does Baldness Start?

Baldness can start at various ages, often depending on androgenetic hair loss genes:

For men: Usually in their 20s or 30s, but ranges from their teens to their 40s or 50s.
For women: Typically begins after menopause, but can start in their 20s or 30s.

Final Words on Hair Loss Genetics

Hair loss can be confusing, with questions like “Is baldness genetic?” or “Where does the bald gene come from?” It’s not just one parent’s fault; both mom and dad can pass down the hair loss gene.

The myths that baldness genetics come only from the mother’s side aren’t entirely true. Both genetics male pattern baldness and androgenetic alopecia in women involve genes from both parents. This helps us understand how baldness is inherited.

Baldness genetics is complex and affects both genders. Other than genetics, Alopecia androgenic is also linked to hormones, and aging, and it can’t be completely stopped. But there are treatments to manage the condition.

If you’re worried about balding, it’s not just about the bald gene or balding gene. A professional can help you understand your unique hair loss genetics, looking at the causes of androgenetic alopecia and more.

Understanding the big picture of baldness hereditary factors and other types like alopecia androgenic helps pave the way to better control over this common issue.

References:

Dr. Sumeet K., PhD

Dr. Sumeet is a seasoned geneticist turned wellness educator and successful financial blogger. GenesWellness.com, leverages his rich academic background and passion for sharing knowledge online to demystify the role of genetics in wellness. His work is globally published and he is quoted on top health platforms like Medical News Today, Healthline, MDLinx, Verywell Mind, NCOA, and more. Using his unique mix of genetics expertise and digital fluency, Dr. Sumeet inspires readers toward healthier, more informed lifestyles.

Is Hair Loss Genetic? Does Baldness Come From Mother or Father?