Hi Doc,
My dad is pretty bald. Will I be as bald as him?
Concerned Teen
Dear Concerned Teen,
You may not necessarily become as bald as your dad. The exact mechanism of inheritance for balding/thinning is not entirely known. However, it is generally believed that persons inherit several genes and the number and type determines how bald a person gets. For the most part, persons who have a father who is balding is more likely to start balding before age 30. Also, if the person’s father is really bald, the chances of becoming bald like his dad is pretty high. However, you might have inherited your mom’s non balding genes. I do hope that there is no thinning on your mother’s side of the family. But don’t despair new technologies are being worked on to tackle hair loss. These will be available in the near future.
