In the same way that humans have built better technology over the centuries to gain knowledge of the cosmos, we make strides every year in better understanding genetics and the role it plays in our lives. Will I grow to become tall like my father? Or smart like my sister? Will my hair turn white, like my grandfather’s did at age 26?
While we have made great strides, there are some areas we understand better than others. Certain experiments can be recreated over and over to get the same results in the lab. And while we can identify certain genes for hair growth and color, a full understanding is always a work in progress. Remember that we once believed the world was flat and the Earth was the center of the universe.
What Do Genes Control?
Hair color is determined by genes like MC1R and its ability to produce melanin/pigment, and exactly how much of it. It’s not unlike mixing paints in that the hues and quantities determine a final color, if you’ll forgive the oversimplification.
Hair thickness is not only determined by genes like TCHH, FGFR2, and EDAR, but also by hormones, hair products, age, and other factors. Our understanding of exactly which gene plays exactly which role is rather elementary at this point, as they seem to all be interconnected in some way yet to be fully discovered.
While we know one gene helps transmit information about hair, it doesn’t directly make changes to hair. And while another gene (that is part of several genes determining hair color) may be deactivated, it is still important as it may serve additional genetic hair functions unrelated to color.
What About Stress?
Believe it or not, a singular highly-stressful event can cause hair loss in some people. It falls under the umbrella of Telogen Effluvium and the loss is normally quick, but in almost all the recorded cases, it is thankfully not permanent. Telogen Effluvium is the thinning or loss of hair caused by stress to the follicle that had been in the growth stage (anagen). The stress causes the growth stage to prematurely end and kicks off the resting stage (telogen) in which the hair is pushed out of the follicle.
For most of us, the average span of the growth stage is about 4 years, and then the hair naturally rests (falls out) on its own. But a stressful or traumatic event (or long-term stress) simply stops some of the hair from growing and you may notice it on your floor or hairbrush. Whether temporary or permanent, the short medical term is alopecia.
Examples of stress that may incite Telogen Effluvium are major surgery, protein deficiency, emotional stress like job loss or divorce, and illness, to name a few. The trauma does not have to be a singular event, and can be from ongoing daily issues we may subconsciously be suppressing.
X or Y Chromosome? Mom’s Fault or Dad’s?
Men can get male pattern baldness, and women can get female pattern baldness. In each case, the X (given by Moms to offspring) chromosome marks the spot, meaning it contains the genes associated with alopecia. But hold that thought! It is not the only hereditary link to baldness. There is genetic information from your Y (given by Dads to offspring) chromosome that can contribute to other factors of hair loss, and we are but infants in our understanding of all the ingredients that make up the problem.
In summary, genetics does play a large role in your hair growth, density, color and predisposition to lose hair, but it is not the only culprit. Other factors can also be to blame like stress, hormonal changes, nutrition, environmental and medical conditions, and more. It’s definitely worth bringing up at the family reunion or around the Thanksgiving table (unless talk of your bald spot is a sore spot.)
Dr. Williams is always available to take your questions and answer your concerns about treatment for hair loss, set up a consultation today.
