Month: January 2023

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319862.php

This is a good review on the different approaches to getting a thicker head of hair. I am not necessarily endorsing this article, and certainly not all of the recommendations are valuable.

You absolutely should not get a hair transplant. Drugs like finasteride and/or minoxidil might work. Wait until you see what you look like at the age of 26 when your balding pattern will become more evident. Then work with a good doctor who understands the concept of a MASTER PLAN for hair loss and if transplants are warranted then, you can consider it.

DHT levels have no value when you are considering taking finasteride for male genetic hair loss. Young men have good testosterone levels and therefore will have good DHT levels so measuring these levels does not change the treatment goals

A German carpenter named Clemens Bimek has developed a vasectomy valve that he has tested on himself

Is it a coincidence or not that both my father and my grandfather (his father) went bald, or is it because of the similarities? My father has an overbite (his top jaw is more in front of his bottom jaw), as did his father. My grandfather and father went bald at about the same age, which was their early 20’s, although my father said he noticed hair loss at around the age of 18-19.

My brother who does not share this bite similarity is now 26 has his hair, but has an asymmetric pattern which has been this way since his late teens, and has maybe matured/receded more since then, but he has a healthy head of hair.

I guess my main question is: since I also have this overbite like my 2 bald family members, does this put me at more of a risk of balding because I have a facial feature more like them, or is balding simply not relateable whatsoever to minor facial similarities. I guess my concern is inheriting genetics.

Thanks.

I wouldn’t expect facial features and hair loss to have relation. You can get tested for the balding genes with HairDX and that will give you an idea if you are carrying the gene for balding. It won’t tell you if that gene will express itself (or to what degree, or when)… but it’s something to go on if you’re concerned.

Hello Dr! First of all, english is not my native language so please bear with me.

My question is about the genetics regarding male pattern baldness and if it’s only a “guessing game” to determine the future outcome of my hair situation.

I need some advice on my hair situation. I’m a 30 year old male who has been “struggling” with high temples since about high school. I’ve been obsessing about my hair since about january (never even thought about it before then). Probably a nw 2,5-3.

My family history is making me so confused over the outcome of my, probable, upcoming hair loss. Making a list for an easy read;

Moms side;
Granddad, full head of har until his 60s then a diffuse thinner. (Always had “fine hair”)

Grandmom, curly hair, little temple recession.
Uncle 1, fine hair. Receding hair line and vertex thinning in his 50s (maybe later)

Uncle 2, full head of hair, curly. Mom, thin fine hair.

Dads side;
Granddad, bald. Probably started in his late 20s. Uncle, bald. Noticeable when he was about 25. Dad, straght hair, high temples (like me). Full head of hair.

Brothers;
3 year older, diffuse thinner. Noticeable at vertex in his early 20s. 6 years younger, high temples, a little bit diffuse thinner.

Question:
Is it possible to pick up my grandfathers balding pattern later, for example, he started too notice thinning at the age of 28.. Can i follow hes pattern but 5 years later?

We don’t generally go into this much detail into family history or give a diagnosis or a prediction based on family history. In general male pattern balding is genetic but it does not always follow a family line. The best way to diagnose MPB is through an exam (in person).

If you have a Norwood 3 hair loss pattern then that is what you have.
If you think you are going to have a Norwood 5 hair loss pattern, then the best way to find out is through a detailed exam. Looking at your hair under a microscope (MINIATURIZATION STUDY) or testing the bulk of your hair over a period of time (BULK STUDY) is the best way to diagnose the balding pattern.

A 2017 gene study of 52,000 40-69 year old males tried to identify genes associated with balding, and they identified over 250 genetic markers common in bald men. They then tried to use it to predict MPB with some success. Total of 61% in the lowest risk group had hair loss, with 14% of it being severe. The highest risk had 58% with moderate to severe loss. https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006594

Even after identifying this many genes its far from perfect. We can logically deduce it’s more likely that there is no MPB gene. Genetics increase susceptibility, but that applies to everything else. This also explains why most old men will exhibit recession, and why everyone recedes to different extents.

Interesting. Thanks for the information.

No, every person has a genetic code for a particular balding pattern if they have genetic balding. These people bald to that genetic pattern only and then stop balding.

We have known for years that there is a connection between crown (vertex) balding and heart disease but this article seems to extend the relationship with all forms of balding, worse in men with crown balding.

https://www.capillus.com/blog/connection-between-hair-loss-and-heart-disease/