Tuesday, October 13, 2009

There is now a genetic test for hair loss that can tell a man how likely it is that he will suffer from hair loss in the future. This means that if you are a teenager, you can find out today what your odds of being bald at the age of 40 are.

The test can help people reduce baldness, because they can start to get treatment even before they are losing hair. For example, you could take the test and find out you have a 60 percent chance of severe baldness by age 40. The test is easy to take, since all you need is to get a DNA sample from a cheek swab.

The test looks at the androgen receptor gene on the x chromosome to determine the risk. While many genes and other factors may determine overall risk for hair loss, this is seen as a good starting point.

The benefit of knowing early is that you can prepare a treatment plan and even begin a treatment today to prevent hair loss. Some of the best treatment options include: Finasteride (Propecia), Provillus, Minoxidil (Rogaine), laser therapy, hair surgery and better nutrition (higher protein intake).