Is hair loss caused by genetic or environmental factors?
Is hair loss caused by genetic or environmental factors ? Androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness) is caused by a very complex interplay of both genetic and environmental variables. The DNA provides the core foundation which predisposes individuals to losing hair. However environmental factors can accelerate the process of hair restoration or slow it down. Observational studies on identical twins show that if one of the siblings consumed more alcohol and cigarettes, they were more likely to show a greater extent of baldness. And the twin who spent more time in the sun was more likely to develop hair loss in the crown.
(image – Creative Commons) Researchers are looking deeper into the role of genes and how they contribute to hair loss.
