High Stress or Bad Genetics?

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I’m 22 and I’ve begun the early stages of balding, no doubt about it. Nobody in my known family has begun balding as young as I have.

In the past 5 years, I have been through severe emotional trauma; watching my dad wither away and die from a rare form of cancer, dealing with my mom’s substance abuse problems and a suicide attempt from her, and struggling to live on my own. I have had severe depression and suicidal thoughts recurring.

My question to you is: is there any way this stress could have brought about the expression of my balding pattern younger than I would have if I had a healthier mental health record, or would bad luck in genetics be more likely to blame? Thank you in advance.

Stress related balding is different than genetic balding. Stress related balding is likely reversible. For genetic balding, there is no cure… but there are adjuncts such as medicine and surgery.

There is one catch: stress can precipitate genetic balding earlier on. BUT you have to have the genetic trait to bring this about.

Finally, while genetic balding is considered hereditary, it does not have to mean your immediate or distant family must have balding. In simpler words, the gene may have been ‘silent’ until it came to you.