We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Beauty

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Is There Hereditary Baldness?

By C. Webb
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,643
Share

Hereditary baldness can affect men, women, and children. It is caused by a specifically identified gene and is referred to as male or female baldness, androgenetic baldness, and diffuse baldness. Some people choose to allow baldness to take its natural course, while others do whatever they can to hide its existence. There is no cure for hereditary baldness, but there are steps that can be taken to slow hair loss.

Over half of the world's Caucasian men and 30 percent of Caucasian women over the age of 40 experience some degree of hereditary baldness. The gene only has to be inherited from one parent for it to impact a person during his or her lifetime. Men who have hereditary baldness can begin losing hair in their teen years, while women typically begin to lose theirs in their 30s. The hairline and the front and top of the head are where men lose the most hair, while women typically lose it at the hairline or from the crown. Men can become completely bald, but most women with the gene only experience overall thinning without complete baldness.

While there is no cure for hereditary baldness, different hairstyles can disguise its progression. Scarves, hats, and specially designed make-up are other non-invasive methods used to hide advancing baldness. Medical interventions for hereditary baldness include surgery or topical solutions designed to encourage regrowth. Health insurance carriers do not usually cover medical intervention for baldness. There are also corticosteroid injections available in many regions of the world to target baldness.

The most common surgical intervention for baldness is a hair transplant. The surgery involves taking skin from the back of the head and grafting it to the bald areas. The hair on the skin typically grows out and fills in the thin or bald areas. A more natural look comes from a micrograft, in which a few hair follicles are transplanted at a time. This technique can involve as many as 1,000 follicle transplants.

Topical solutions including minoxidil have been approved for treating baldness. The solution is applied to the scalp two times a day for several months. Its chemical compounds stimulate hair growth. The product, available for men and women, has been reported to work 25 percent of the time for men who use it and 20 percent for women.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/is-there-hereditary-baldness.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.