Genetics: hereditary alopecia
Hereditary alopecia : According to an extensive study, carried out in England on more than 50,000 male individuals, more than 200 genetic markers linked to alopecia have been identified. A large part of these genes are involved in the development of hair, while another part of the genes are located on the X chromosome, inherited from the mother. Alopecia is therefore hereditary.
Baldness is a pathology that is often poorly tolerated by men. But it can also affect some women. We now know that baldness is partly hereditary. But it can also be caused or accentuated by stress, fatigue or other illnesses.
In the UK, 40% of men suffer from alopecia, and most come from a genetic condition called androgenic alopecia which can be hereditary (hereditary alopecia). This affects a constant number of men in France, of which more than 10,000 each year travel to Turkey for hair transplantation.
These are precisely 287 groups of genes that are linked to hair loss. Thanks to this discovery, David Hill and Saskia Hagenaars, researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, hope to be able to prevent the risk of going bald.
Hereditary alopecia: a maternal inheritance
Most of the genetic markers identified are linked to the very structure of hair and its development. As for the hair loss itself, it could be directly linked to hormonal changes. Alopecia is hereditary. The genes, mostly located on the X chromosome, are linked to androgen receptors, hence the name given to this type of baldness: androgenetic alopecia (hereditary alopecia). The researcher Saskia Hagenaars, who carried out this study even underlines “The number of genetic signals associated with male pattern baldness come from the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mother”.
It is from these results that researchers began to develop a method to predict the risk of baldness in individuals. The method is therefore based on the presence or not of the genetic markers indicated. However, according to Dr. Riccardo Marioni, researchers are still far from reaching an exact prediction of the risk of alopecia in an individual, however, these results allow us to get closer to it.
Hair transplantation: a solution to hereditary alopecia
Hair transplantation is recognized as the most effective solution today to permanently correct hair loss. Indeed, this surgical intervention is indicated in most people suffering from alopecia, whether androgenetic or scarring.
However, in some cases where the alopecia is not yet too advanced, it is important not to perform a hair transplant too early. At HairBack Clinic (contact), we advise our patients to wait until the hair loss has stabilized for at least 2 years, before having the hair implant operation. In the opposite case, the transplant is of course possible, but it must then be taken into account that a second hair transplant session may be necessary again in future years.
Other remedies for hereditary alopecia
Hair transplantation remains the most durable and effective hair treatment. However, there are also hair treatments in the form of topical or oral medications. Among the most effective are:
-Minoxidil
Minoxidil an antihypertensive vasodilator drug, used to fight against moderate alopecia and thus slow down hair loss. It is also prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with hypertension.
Minoxidil allows better irrigation of the scalp and the follicles it contains, thanks to its effect of dilating the blood vessels of the scalp. It stimulates hair growth, strengthens follicles, and transforms weak, thin hair into healthy, resilient hair.
For visible results, it is advisable to follow the treatment with Minoxidil for at least 4 months.
Minoxidil 5% is used for male hair loss, then Minoxidil 2% will be prescribed for female hair loss.
-Finasteride
Finasteride is the active substance of several drugs. It is used to treat various exclusively male pathologies, affecting the prostate as well as hereditary alopecia, or androgenetic alopecia.
The action of Finasteride decreases the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone in the body. DHT playing a main role in hair loss, by lowering its rate, hair loss is then slowed down.
Finasteride is used at the rate of 5 mg per day. This dose can be found in most generic versions of Finasteride and in the brand name drug Proscar.
-Anti hair loss shampoo
Many shampoos, including those containing active ingredients such as ketoconazole, are formulated to prevent excessive hair loss and promote optimal hair growth.
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