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Hereditary baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss. It is caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors and is usually passed down from one or both parents. The main cause of hereditary baldness is a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to the hair follicles and causes them to shrink, resulting in thinner and shorter hairs. Eventually, the follicles will stop producing hair altogether, resulting in baldness. Treatment for hereditary baldness often involves medications that block the effects of DHT, as well as topical treatments such as minoxidil. Hair transplants may also be used to restore hair in areas where baldness has occurred.
It is most commonly classified into 4 types. The first is male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia. This is the most common and is what most of these medications, such as Proscar and rogaine are designed for. The second type is known as female pattern baldness. The third is alopecia areata, which is caused by an autoimmune response. The fourth is known as diffuse alopecia, which is unknown in a cause.
There are only two types of female pattern baldness. The first is the female type of androgenic alopecia, which is similar to male pattern baldness. It is much less common because testosterone is a requirement for this, and women have a much lower testosterone level. The other type is alopecia areata, which is the auto-immune type. It affects both men and women.