Do do family members bald in a similar pattern?

[nocombover123]

Hey guys,

 

I've been looking at some family photos recently. There seems to be a clear pattern in the way my brother and my dad lost their hair. I feel like I may also be balding in a similar pattern (i.e balding from the front at the temples with an increasingly thinning hairline). One of the main arguments against young guys having hair transplants is that the balding patten has not fully emerged yet. But is that always the case? I'd say I'm a norwood 2a/3. I'm 22 years old.

[aaron1234]

Family members may or may not bald in the same pattern. I've seen both. In my family, my dad has a full head of hair at 55, his dad is a Norwood 4 at the age of 84. And I have an uncle on my dads side that is a NW5 at the age of 57.

[Blake Bloxham]

Nocombover,

 

As much as we would like to fully grasp the genetic nature of hair loss, it's still a very difficult phenomenon to understand, anticipate, and treat.

 

Although believing some of the well known hair loss rumors (if your mother's father has his hair, you won't lose yours; if your father is bald you will experience hair loss) is tempting, the truth of the matter is that genetic hair loss is unpredictable and these popular hair loss myths are rarely true. In my opinion, family members balding in a similar pattern falls into this category.

 

If you have genetic hair loss somewhere in you family tree, you're susceptible and may experience balding at some point in your life (even if your father or other close blood relatives have not). Additionally, although it's possible that the physical appearance of your hair loss may look similar to other family member's baldness patterns, there is no guarantee that it has to.

 

You may find that both you and your father have some genetic aspect (genotype) of hair loss, but he's a Norwood VII and your hair loss only progressed to a Norwood III or IV (phenotype). There are a variety of reasons why this can occur (maybe you started preventive treatment sooner, slightly different genetic makeup, different diet/lifestyle stressors), but I think the important point is simply understanding the following: if you have genetic hair loss in your family tree, you are susceptible to balding. However, because hair loss is unpredictable and progressive, there is no guarantee that your particular pattern will resemble the balding pattern of other close relatives.

Edited May 7, 2011 by Future_HT_Doc

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

The balding gene can be passed down by either the mother, father, or some type of combination. That means is is very difficult to predict hair loss in most cases. It is possible that you are following your father and brothers foot steps. It is also possible that you may not, but you may want to consider trying Propecia to try and break the chain.

[nocombover123]

Okay thanks for your replies guys. I've nearly reached the 1 year mark with propecia so I'm considering my options re transplants etc. Thanks again for your help.

[ziggy00]

If only genetics were so simple. It would make decisions about hair loss so much easier!