Is Baldness Hereditary?

You’ve noticed your hairline receding or thinning at the crown, and you can’t help but think back to your father or grandfather who experienced the same thing. Does this mean baldness runs in your family, or could something else be causing your hair loss?

At Vivida Dermatology, with locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, our board-certified dermatologists help patients understand what causes hair loss and whether genetics plays a role in their situation.

Here’s what you need to know about hereditary baldness and other factors that affect your hair.

Genetics and pattern baldness

Yes, baldness can be hereditary. The most common type of permanent hair loss — androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness — passes down through families and affects both men and women.

This genetic condition makes your hair follicles sensitive to androgens, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When DHT binds to receptors in your hair follicles, it causes them to shrink over time. The follicles produce thinner, shorter hairs with each growth cycle until they eventually stop producing visible hair altogether.

Men with androgenetic alopecia typically develop a receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown. Women usually experience overall thinning across the top of the scalp rather than complete baldness in specific areas.

Where the genes come from

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t just inherit baldness from your mother’s side of the family. The genetics of hair loss are more complex than that.

Multiple genes from both parents contribute to your likelihood of developing pattern baldness. You can inherit these genes from your mother, your father, or both. Having a family history of hair loss on either side increases your risk of hair loss.

The genetic predisposition affects when you might start losing hair and how quickly it progresses. Some people notice thinning in their 20s, while others don’t see changes until their 40s or 50s.

Hair loss factors beyond genetics

Even if you carry genes for pattern baldness, other factors influence whether and when you experience hair loss. These factors include:

• Hormonal changes, particularly during menopause, when estrogen levels drop
• Age, which naturally slows down your hair growth cycle
• Thyroid disorders that affect hair growth
• Nutritional deficiencies, especially iron and protein
• Scalp infections or inflammatory conditions

Women often notice increased hair loss during menopause because estrogen promotes hair growth and helps keep hair in the growth phase longer. Medical conditions can contribute to hair loss independent of genetic factors.

Determining your genetic risk for hair loss

Looking at your family members can give you clues about your risk for hereditary hair loss. Consider these factors when assessing your risk:

• Number of relatives with pattern baldness on both sides of your family
• The age at which your relatives started losing hair
• How quickly their hair loss progressed
• Pattern of hair loss in family members

If multiple relatives on both sides of your family experienced pattern baldness, you have a higher likelihood of developing it yourself. Pay attention to when your relatives started losing hair. If pattern baldness runs in your family and starts early, you might want to consider preventive treatments before you notice thinning.

Our dermatologists can examine your scalp and review your family history to determine whether genetics is causing your hair loss or if another condition is responsible. We review your hair distribution pattern, check for underlying scalp issues, and discuss when you first noticed changes in your hair.

Treatment options for hereditary hair loss

Having a genetic predisposition to baldness doesn’t mean you’re without options. Several effective treatments can slow down hair loss or restore hair growth, including topical solutions, oral medications, and injectable treatments.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) offers a permanent solution for pattern baldness. This procedure removes individual hair follicles from areas where you have abundant growth and transplants them to thinning or bald sections. The transplanted follicles continue producing hair in their new location, creating natural-looking results that last.

Understanding your hair loss at Vivida Dermatology

Our dermatologists at Vivida Dermatology can evaluate your hair and scalp to determine whether genetics are behind your hair loss and which treatment options make sense for your situation. Call us or book an appointment online at one of our offices in Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada, or St. George, Utah.