Hair Restoration Blog

Dear Dr. Mohebi:

Hello, my name is KT I am a chemistry student at Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan.
I found your email address on the ISHRS website. I am doing research on solving hair loss, and I wonder if you might be able to help me. I noticed on your website that you are working with hair loss, so it seems you have knowledge about these issues. I know you must be very busy, but I hope you do not mind if I ask you a question.

In your research and in your opinion, do you think that the biggest cause of hair loss is inheritance?
Thank you very much for your time and attention to my question. I hope to hear from you at your convenience, and I am grateful for your assistance with my research. Thank you once again, and have a nice day.

Sincerely,

KT
Kwansei Gakuin University
Japan

A:

You are right about inheritance and hair loss as male patterned baldness is concerned.  When you are a man (have testosterone) so your body can make DHT (dihydroxy testosterone) and are genetically prone to male patterned hair loss, you have two of the three sides of the balding triangle.  You only need the third side which is time to force the other two factors to work on your hair and cause miniaturization of hair and have them fall out.  Considering that men have testosterone, genetics become the most important factor in men who experience male patterned baldness.

Q:

I am a 45 year old woman. My dermatologist told me that I have male patterned baldness. I am also diagnosed with Iron deficiency anemia. Can Iron deficiency in women cause hair loss in male patterned baldness and if so, can treatment of iron deficiency help reversing balding process?

A:

Iron deficiency with or without overt anemia can intensify the rate of hair loss in women with either male or female patterned hair loss. If Iron deficiency is the only cause of your hair loss and you are not genetically prone to anemia, hair loss can be reversible. However in many situations, patients are genetically predisposed to patterned hair loss and Iron deficiency has only accelerated the hair loss process. Accelerated hair loss in women who are genetically predisposed to patterned hair loss may not be reversible by just correcting the Iron deficiency. You need to see a good hair specialist to confirm the type of your hair loss and plan the proper treatment method including hair transplant surgery.