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If you’re wondering why you’re beginning to lose your full head of hair at such a young age, the answer may lie in your genes. Thinning hair is more a result of your genetic makeup than any other reasons, including such wild presumptions as wearing hats too much, excessive washing, and other misguided myths. Hair thinning is usually a result of alopecia, a condition which is basically genetic in nature, and is clinically-known as Androgenetic Alopecia.

Chances are, your scalp’s fate has been predetermined in the womb. The hair follicles are genetically programmed much like all of your other body parts; included in this program is the time and extent of the baldness which you will incur in your entire lifetime. Hair thinning occurs when specific hormones affect those hair follicles which carry an innate susceptibility to their effects. The human body can manufacture male hormones; this function disregards gender factors, and is applicable to women as well. The three hormones which are usually produced are dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, and testosterone. On the other hand, the hair follicles and skin pores are abundant in an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase; this substance can convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through the help of the bloodstream. An overabundance of this single hormone, DHT, is known as the primary cause of male-pattern baldness.

Some people have an inborn vulnerability for baldness at the top of their heads. During maturity or middle ages, this area is specifically targeted by DHT by binding with the receptors of the susceptible follicles, causing the latter to eventually weaken. Now the normal growth cycle of a hair follicle is three to eight years; at the end of this process, the shaft and strand is separated from the hair follicle, in place of a new strand. But with hair thinning, the growth cycles gets progressively shorter in time, and the hair strand which comes out of the follicle becomes ever thinner in volume and thickness. This process is known as miniaturization.

This cycle successively takes on a gradual severity, and will eventually lead to baldness in most of the people who experience it. There are even cases wherein the baldness is so extensive that every treatment alternative is practically ineffective in addressing or reversing the hair loss. However, some cases are temporary, and may be a result of a combination of various factors which include genetic predisposition. The best way to ascertain your actual condition is to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

The treatment for hair loss comes in a wide variety of topical applications, medications, and even surgery procedures. The most promising alternative thus far is the drug finasteride; it inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT, and encourages the hair follicle to bring out new strands in place of old ones. Some of the more drastic procedures involve hair transplants and scalp reduction; these either transplant hair strands on the follicles (one strand at a time), or the scalp itself is ‘stretched’ in an attempt to minimize the extent of the baldness. Consult with your doctor first if you are considering on any of these possible treatment options; your doctor is the best person to decide on which alternative will be the best for you.

Learn about Alopecia Areata and hair thinning with haircuts advice