In this article, a doctor will explain in detail the common rumor that ``thinning hair is hereditary''.

Is thinning hair hereditary?

In conclusion, we know that so-called thinning hair, AGA (androgenetic alopecia), has a strong genetic component.
If you have someone in your family who has thinning hair, it is normal to be worried that you too may experience thinning hair.
So what kind of genes are inherited that cause hair thinning symptoms?

What kind of genes are inherited to cause AGA?

A typical example is the androgen receptor gene.
In the first place, AGA (androgenetic alopecia) occurs when male hormones act strongly on hair follicle cells and disrupt the hair cycle.
There are ``androgen receptors'' in hair root cells that catch the male hormone called androgen, and whether or not the ``androgen receptor'' is sensitive to androgens determines whether or not you are likely to develop AGA.
In other words, if a gene with a strong sensitivity to androgens is passed down between generations, the disease is likely to develop.

According to data published in the journal Nature Communications in 2018, a large-scale genome-wide association analysis of AGA patients revealed that, in addition to the androgen receptor gene, there are 71 types of genetic polymorphisms associated with AGA development. was also identified.
These 71 genes include genes involved in the development and growth of hair follicles.

How often is it inherited?

Even if a parent has thin hair, their child may not have thin hair, but how often does the gene get passed down? Regarding the "androgen receptor gene", for example,If your maternal grandfather had thinning hair, there is a 75% chance that it is inherited.
In fact, that's 4 out of 3 people.
Furthermore, if there is someone older than your grandfather who has thinning hair, the probability will increase.
Conversely, even if your father has thinning hair, it is not inherited from your father.It is known that the gene related to AGA is always inherited from the mother.

The "androgen receptor gene" is a gene located on the X chromosome.

Chromosomes have different combinations in men and women,
For men, there is one XY, and for women, there are two Xs.
If the male and female produce a boy, the female will inherit the X chromosome.
Therefore, even if a father carries the gene for thinning hair on his X chromosome, it will not be passed on to his son.

If there is someone in your maternal family with thinning hair, there is a high probability that you will inherit it.

In the case of AGA, the milder the progression of the disease, the moreIt is said that the younger you are, the more effective the treatment will be, so if you have a family history of thinning hair, we recommend that you carefully monitor your own hair.

Most cases diagnosed by doctors

When I actually talk to patients at the clinic, many of them tell me that their hair started to thin about six months to a year ago, but I find that they don't actually know the density of their hair or the condition of their hair roots. When I examine my patient, I sometimes feel that the progression of AGA may have started several years ago.
In particular, many patients are surprised when they see a photo of the crown of their head during a medical examination because they have not had the opportunity to see it themselves. However, worrying too much can cause stress and cause hair thinning, so be sure to deal with it in moderation.

Summary

If you have a family history of thinning hair, you are more likely to have thinning hair yourself.
Careful observation is required to begin healing quickly.