Hair lossthyroid problem?

Question
I am a 21 year old male who has had a receding hairline since my teen years, 17 on. I went for a blood test to test my thyroid and it came back fine. My mom gad the same test done to her tyroid, blood test, and her results came back fine as well. But then she had half of her thyroid removed and now shes on Synthroid. What should I do? Do you think I might have the same problem as my mother, even though my blood work was fine??



Thanks,



Billy


Answer
I would not worry about having thyroid problems if your own blood tests were normal. You should take a look at older male family members to see what their hairlines look like. Start with your father's and any of your mother's brothers or your mother's father. If they have baldness then you may have inherited those genes. You can ask your doctor to do a test for the genes that cause baldness by getting the test kit from HairDx.  



You can read more about that at www.hairdx.com



"What will the results mean for men?



The HairDX genetic test for Male Pattern Hair Loss provides information on the presence of a specific variation in the androgen receptor gene (AR), found on the X chromosome. The variant AR gene causes changes in the hair follicle's response to dihydrotestosterone, leading to alterations in the hair growth cycle.



   * A man that tests positive for the variant AR gene has up to an 80% chance of developing Male Pattern Hair Loss.

   * A man that tests negative for the variant AR gene has up to a 90% chance of not developing Male Pattern Hair Loss.



Men who test positive for the variant AR gene should be advised that they are at a high risk for developing Male Pattern Hair Loss. These men may wish to consult with a physician specializing in hair restoration, who can develop a plan to monitor and treat hair loss. For example, such men may be good candidates for finasteride (Propecia), especially if treatment is started early.



In contrast, men who test negative for the variant AR gene can be reassured that they are at a low risk for developing Male Pattern Hair Loss. This avoids unnecessary concern or expense over hair loss."