It is quite possible for men and women to become bald due to certain illnesses or aging. However, the issue we want to touch upon is about baldness that develops outside of such situations.
So, what distinguishes men and women in terms of hair structure and why are there more men going bald than women?
In fact, this situation is largely related to the genes we carry.
Based on the fact that baldness is more common in men, researchers took action to identify specific gene variants, and as a result, it was seen that the AR gene, located on the X chromosome, is effective in baldness.
This gene is probably the first we have heard of; It plays a very important role in the development and functioning of men’s sexual organs, beards and deep voices and produces a protein called androgen receptor (AR).
So what function does this protein have?
The main function of the androgen receptor is to detect the male hormones dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. Most organs and cells in our body contain AR, and accordingly, hair follicles are affected depending on the amount of this protein.
The effect of DHT, a derivative of testosterone, on our hair is much greater than we imagine. This protein causes hair follicles to shrink over time, as well as thinning of the hair.
Also, if you are genetically prone to baldness, it is quite possible that you are going through this process now or will go through it in the very near future!
For example, experts followed 12,806 men of European descent in a comprehensive study and found that individuals carrying a particular variant of the DHT gene were twice as likely to develop baldness as those without this gene. In short, being biologically male equals fighting baldness.
When we look at it from the chromosome perspective, as we all know, men receive an X chromosome from their mother and a Y chromosome from their father. This further increases the possibility that genes associated with baldness are inherited from the mother.
Women, on the other hand, carry two X chromosomes, one from each parent.
If one X chromosome carries the gene associated with baldness but the other X chromosome does not have the gene, then that X chromosome may not express the effect of the baldness gene. In summary, this inheritance model clarifies why baldness in men is more common in them.
On the other hand, it is not the case that every man carrying the baldness gene will suffer from this condition. Because many genes are involved in hair loss, and the combinations of these genes determine whether the hair increases or decreases.
In fact, women also produce DHT and testosterone, but why does this not affect them so much?
Because, due to genetics, women produce DHT and testosterone in much lower amounts than men. In addition, women have much higher amounts of estrogen and progesterone hormones, which contribute to keeping hair follicles healthy.
So, women may start to face baldness largely with menopause, when estrogen and progesterone hormones decrease. In addition to all these, hair loss becomes inevitable with aging, where hormonal factors and genetics cause major changes, regardless of men and women.
Again, stress, smoking and alcohol use, and unhealthy nutrition not only cause many negative effects on our body, but also play a major role in baldness.
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