Does the future of hair loss treatment lie in our DNA?
22nd December 2020
DNA: Does it hold the future of hair loss treatment? Hair loss can be a difficult condition to diagnose as many different factors can contribute to its development.
Our genetics play an important part – hereditary-pattern baldness being the most common cause of hair loss for both men and women. However, other lifestyle factors such as diet can also attribute to this.
Hereditary-pattern baldness is actually recognised by the World Health Organization as a disease or condition caused by a combination of genetics, hormone production and the ageing process.
Almost all men and women will notice some hair loss or hair thinning as they age. However, up to 40 per cent of men and women will experience a more obvious form of this condition.
Hair loss typically begins in the 20s and 30s, although in women the changes are most noticeable after menopause. The condition is called androgenetic alopecia or male- and female-pattern baldness.
For many, the fear of hair loss and balding can be debilitating, especially if hair loss is evident in family members and therefore it is likely there may be an underlying genetic factor.
With the advancement of genetic testing, however, there is now newfound hope for many. New tests coming to market offer the chance to gain a greater understanding of your sensitivity and suitability for common hair loss treatments – no longer is it a wait and see scenario.
Why is this important? Well, being able to detect early your likely response to treatment is crucial to be able to maintain and protect the existing hair follicles.
The most advanced tests, such as Fagron’s TrichoTest, combine the analysis of genetic variations, lifestyle factors and literature related to hair loss treatment to then suggest appropriate treatment options through topical, oral or surgical solutions.
Creating a personalised treatment plan in this way will help give you the best results, by choosing the best and most effective treatments.
If you’re worried about hair loss and want some expert advice, or simply want to learn more about genetic testing, our team are happy to talk you through your options.
