Dear Dr Rassman,
Do you use probabilities when assessing future hairloss in a man who has MPB? I’m 23 and on Propecia. Men on my mothers side and fathers side are basically Norwood 7: both of my uncles were Norwood 6. My father is Norwood 7. His father was Norwood 7. My mother’s father was Norwood 7. If you had a patient that has a similar history of balding as me, what would you tell him? Would you say there is a high probability that he’ll become a Norwood 7?
To let you know how much balding I currently have:
I definitely have reduced hair density all over (not actual visible balding yet). There is some slight visible balding in my crown. My hairline is starting to recede past the “mature hairline” area. I’ve been on Propecia for about 1 1/2 years and it’s slowed down the balding significantly but it hasn’t stopped and grown hairs. I understand it might be difficult to answer my question without seeing my hair but any information you provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
There is now a blood test which will look at your genetics to assess your risk for hair loss (see HairDX Genetic Hair Loss Test System). Predicting possibility through a test like this, however, has minimal value in my eyes, because it does not tell you what is happening to you, but it makes it known that you carry the genetic marker. Getting your hair mapped out for miniaturization will tell you what is happening now and it will allow you to follow your hair loss over time and judge the effectiveness of the treatments. Or, why not do both?
As hair loss can skip generations, I couldn’t say what the probability is for losing your hair without an exam.
