Hair Analysis

Although there are various causes of alopecia, there is no clear answer as to why there are different areas of baldness on the scalp. Alopecia often originates inside the hair follicle. These “production plants” are located below the skin and they are very susceptible to certain external factors. The vulnerable hair follicles will for instance have a large number of connection areas or receptors for Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone hormones.

Dihydrotestosterone or DHT is a derivative of Testosterone created by the enzyme 5-alpha- reductase. DHT interacts with genetically affected receptors in hair follicles, shortening their growth phase and thus accelerating the hair growth cycle. As a result, the hair loses thickness and finally the hair follicle degenerates. Experts call this process miniaturisation of the follicle.

The development of androgenic alopecia is determined by hereditary factors (genes). This is why we use the term 'hereditary' alopecia as several genes play a vital role. Androgenic alopecia is caused by polygenic or multifactorial hereditary transmission. This explains, for example, why the abundance of hair of the grandfather (on the mother's or father's side) can be quite different from that of the father or the son. That is, there is no direct relationship between the type of hair of one direct family member and another because not only must they be genetically susceptible to the complaint, but other external factors must also favour its appearance.

According to scientific studies the tendency to hereditary hair loss is mainly transmitted through the mother via the androgen receptor. In this area the hair follicle binds to masculine sex hormones and transmission occurs through the X chromosome. As men can only inherit the X chromosome from their mother the 'risk' of suffering alopecia is more closely related to the mother or maternal grandfather rather than the father. However, hereditary factors are not the only causes of baldness. Other genes are involved irrespective of the paternal type, and so, on occasions, the susceptibility to alopecia may also be transmitted directly from father to son.

There are many factors that determine the appearance of androgenic alopecia in men and women. The degree of influence is highly variable. Some elderly men only have a slight receding hairline whereas others are completely bald at a very early age. The appearance of hereditary alopecia may also vary within the same family. The son or daughter of a bald father or a mother with hair loss may have abundant hair. On the other hand, a man or woman with a lot of hair may have children who will later suffer from hair loss.

Alopecia occurs in round patches typically with no warning, without outside causes and has a circular or oval appearance.

According to the current state of knowledge it is the result of an autoimmune disease. Alopecia areata may appear at any age, usually occurs within the same family and more commonly appears before 30 years of age. The exact cause of alopecia areata is not known. Possible relationships such as hormonal disorders, intoxication with poisons or similar dangerous substances are being considered. Spot baldness or alopecia in round patches is not usually related to psychological causes.

Hair loss caused by haemoglobin deficiency or inadequate nutrition, drugs, hormones, stress, contaminants, etc. Telogen Effluvium occurs uniformly all over the scalp and can be differentiated from androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata by this unique characteristic.

It all begins with a small sample of saliva. One of our molecular biology laboratory technicians then uses a series of biological reactions to extract the DNA from the cells present in the saliva. Once extracted another series of laboratory processes purifies it, separating the DNA from the other parts of the cells. Once we have pure DNA we begin the amplification phase which consists of making copies of the DNA(this enables us to have more DNA to make the analysis without having to get more from the patient).

After all this has been completed the amplified DNA is analysed using our exclusive microarrays, small DNA chips that enable identifying the genes in the sample. In this case the chip is designed to identify genes containing information about alopecia.

Even though all human beings are genetically the same (99.9%), it is this 0.1% remaining which makes us different from each other and means what works for one person will not necessarily be effective for another. This is why we all respond differently to the same product, diet, exercise or ageing.