Androgenetic Alopecia: The Complete Guide for Hereditary Hair Loss

Are you experiencing hair loss? Do you fear it as you age? This article takes you through several perspectives of androgenic alopecia and will be the best guide for your hereditary hair loss. On average, a person's head contains about 100,000 hairs, and they normally lose 50 to 100 of those hairs per day. The rate of hair loss varies from person to person, and it could be more noticeable in people with long hair. However, once the cycle starts to generate less hair, that is when hair loss may happen. Normally, our hair cycle produces more hair than we lose. Hair loss typically starts much later in life, and male-pattern baldness can be hereditary. However, some males may have hair loss considerably sooner and start seeing thinning or male pattern baldness in their 20s. The typical first sign of male-pattern baldness is a receding hairline, followed by hair loss at the crown and temples. Your head is shaped like a horseshoe along the sides and rear. Both males and females suffer from hair loss. In most cases, hair loss is more prominent in the male’s head than in the female’s. So, let's discuss androgenic hair loss.

What’s androgenic alopecia?

In simple terms, the most common type of hair loss. This is called androgenetic alopecia. Some men start experiencing hair loss in their early 20s, whereas others start to observe them during their 50s. It is called by several names like pattern baldness, hereditary hair loss etc... this type of baldness is genetic.

How does Androgenic Alopecia occur?

Before understanding androgenetic alopecia, let’s dig deeper into the hair growth life cycle to understand this problem better. At the hair follicles, a three-phase cycle is in motion. The dermal papilla has a capillary loop that supplies nutrients to the hair matrix cells, which are in charge of growing new hair ( skin layer). The hair matrix actively divides new cells and pushes them upward, where they differentiate to form the hair shaft during the anagen phase (growth stage). The follicle enters catagen (maturity phase) when the two to six-year anagen phase is finished; matrix cells stop functioning during this phase, and hair development ends. Hair shaft migration away from the papillary blood supply occurs as the base of the hair keratinises and moves upward. The follicle finally enters the telogen phase, during which hair changes into club hairs and migrates up the hair sheath. The follicle re-grasps the papilla at the start of the new anagen phase. The blood supply reconnects, and new hair grows. The old club hair naturally sheds as the new hair grows to the same depth and thickness as in the previous cycle. In the case of androgenic alopecia, increased amounts of specific androgens and hair follicles are linked to it, resulting in shorter anagen and prolonged telogen phases. Over time, these modifications cause progressively shallower follicles and thinner hair fibres. At the vertex and frontotemporal regions of the head, the cumulative effect of these alterations is apparent as the characteristic pattern of hair loss. So, how do find out the signs of its occurrence?

What are the signs of finding it out?

Men who have androgenetic alopecia first notice a thinning hairline. Before the bald patches on either side of the head meet, this is frequently accompanied by thinning of the hair around the temple and crown region of the head. This can cause total baldness in certain cases as the hair gradually grows thinner throughout. Different people observe hair loss experiences in different manners. Apart from these characteristics, they can also be an indicator of several other problems in the body. They include coronary heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Then,

What causes androgenic alopecia?

Let’s take a closer step and learn about the biology of alopecia as we know what it’s about and how it commonly presents itself. A combination of genetic and environmental factors influences the growth of androgenic alopecia. Several research studies found that excessive androgens cause most hereditary hair loss effects. Among these androgens, 1 specific kind called dihydrotestosterone is the main one. People with hereditary baldness have a higher sensitivity to the effect of DHT. Let’s understand how it works. It's derived from testosterone, which helps overlap men’s health and development. A high amount of DHT can cause hair loss. More DHT in the blood can bind easily to the hair follicles and cause them to shrink. As time progresses, the shrinkage causes the scalp's ability to support the hair's healthy head.

What are the common medicines used to treat it?

Minoxidil acts as a hair growth promoting agent, which is basically cut out the action of DHT in the receptors and stops the hair follicles from shrinking and falling off. This way, the hair follicles become thick and strong eventually. Men with frontal or vertex alopecia or hair thinning can benefit from minoxidil. It is marketed under several names around the world. One of the popular names used is Rogaine topical cream. Another product is Finasteride, which acts as an inhibitor in the scalp hair root sheath. This solution blocks 5-alpha reductase, inhibiting the production of DHT, which causes hair thinning and early hair loss on the scalp. People ages 18 - 41 have used this product and found it more beneficial. Apart from these, there are several natural substances found that can help in ailing baldness. They include:

1. Caffeine

Who knew drinking your daily cup of coffee might improve your hair? While drinking coffee by itself probably won't result in faster hair growth, the caffeine in coffee can actually work as a DHT blocker. Studies have demonstrated that caffeine encourages hair growth in male and female test participants.

2. Biotin

Many hair growth pills and treatments contain biotin, for a good reason. It has been demonstrated that this water-soluble B vitamin aids in promoting hair development and reducing hair loss and is an efficient DHT blocker.

3. Rosemary Oil

Last but not least, rosemary oil is a noteworthy DHT blocker that has been demonstrated in tests to encourage hair development and improve hair count in subjects.

How does it differ in males and females?

In Males, alopecia is highly prominent and more likely to be passed on through genes. Whereas in females, it’s the same case. For females, it occurs by thinning hair around the head region but doesn’t lead to complete baldness. And women experience hair loss usually after the age of 65.

What are some other types of hair losses?

Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. They sometimes don’t just affect the head region but also affect several parts of the body. Additionally, other types and varieties of hair loss are present.

Alopecia Universalis

It is an advanced alopecia areata, a hereditary hair loss condition that causes total baldness over the entire head and body.

Telogen Effluvium

This condition is reversible and may become active following a traumatic or stressful event. Telogen effluvium patients frequently have transient hair loss towards the top of the scalp.

Scarring Alopecia

In addition to hair loss, there is also scarring of the hair follicle in this more severe form of alopecia.

Trichotillomania

People who have this illness experience irrational cravings to pluck out their hair.

Alopecia Areata

This condition causes sudden hair loss in circular patches. It’s brought on when the immune system begins attacking the hair follicles.