Does Heredity Really Matter in Baldness?

You can't fight nature: Genes can play a part in whether or not you keep your hair as you age.

Baldness, or alopecia, may be caused by a variety of factors, and one of the main culprits is genetics. Gradual thinning of the hair can be a natural part of the aging process, but heredity indeed plays a role in the extremely common condition known as pattern baldness.

Genetics and Baldness

Different types of baldness have different causes, but male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) are thought to be at least partially caused by a genetic predisposition.

Prevalence

Approximately half of men over age 40 experience some hereditary hair loss. The condition is less common in women but still affects around 30 percent of all Caucasian women, according to the website Healthcommunities.com.

Other Causes

According to the Mayo Clinic, baldness or significant hair loss may also be caused by poor nutrition, medications, disease, medical treatments, hormones and hair treatments, among other factors.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Hair Loss: Causes
• Androgenetic Alopecia: Genetics and inheritance of androgenetic alopecia
• Healthcommunities: Hereditary Hair Thinning (Androgenetic Alopecia)