Hair loss is a condition characterized by alterations in your normal cycle of hair growth that cause you to lose hair without adequate replacement. In some cases, your hair loss may stem from causes such as stress, improper hair care or nonhereditary disease. However, in other cases, your hair loss may occur as a result of one or more genetic factors.
Androgenetic Alopecia
One common source of gene-related hair loss is a condition called androgenetic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This condition may manifest as early as your teens or 20s, and you can inherit it from either your mother or father. In men, androgenetic alopecia triggers hair loss in a classic horseshoe-shaped pattern, while in women it triggers thinning of hair throughout the scalp. In addition to its genetic component, the condition also stems from the increased presence of male hormones in both men and women, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus.
Alopecia Areata
You may also experience hair loss as a result of a disease called alopecia areata, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. In cases of this condition, your immune system mistakenly attacks your normal hair follicles, leading to the loss of hair in characteristic small, round patches. Alopecia areata has a very complex genetic profile, NIAMS reports, and you cannot get the disease from alterations in just one or two genes. Rather, it results from the combined effects of multiple genetic changes that happen to arise in a single individual. For this reason, the condition may run in a family bloodline, but it does not frequently pass directly from parents to children.
Lupus
If you have the chronic autoimmune disease lupus, you may develop a form of permanent hair loss called cicatricial alopecia, the Mayo Clinic reports. In these cases, hair loss results from an inflammation of your hair follicles that causes scarring and inhibits the growth of new hair. While lupus does not result from any specific identifiable genetic mutation, it does run in family bloodlines, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment
You cannot cure androgenetic alopecia, the American Academy of Dermatology explains. However, you may gain significant relief from available treatments. Both men and women can use a medication called minoxidil, which is applied directly to the scalp in lotion form. Men may also use an oral medication called finasteride, which achieves its effects by blocking the presence of testosterone in hair follicles.
Alopecia Areata Treatment
Alopecia areata is also incurable, NIAMS notes. While there are no drugs specifically approved to combat its effects, you may gain some relief from a number of treatment options such as topical ointments, oral or injectable corticosteroids, minoxidil or oral doses of cyclosporine. You can also help minimize the effects of the disease by applying sunscreen to affected areas and wearing protective head coverings such as hats, scarves or wigs.
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