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Doctor says every form of alopecia is genetic
Except for my dad who has been receding since his 30's every one else in my family seems to have their hair. In conversation with my dermatologist last week, he said my AA is genetic. He says the gene lives and has lived within me from birth. He says it's been dormant, but something triggered it. He continued to say, that in so many people that have a genetic predispositon, AA could stay dormant their whole lives, while in others in shows up in their teens...or after episodes of stress or auto-immune illnesses, like lupus. He explained it as a mutuation of the protein blocks of our dna, that can been transmitted with and without incident, from generations to generation. He said, in most cases the AA patient is completely healthy and nothing can be done save the cortizone shots to help control inflamation. That's the bad news, the good news is that it can go into remission on it's own and with the same suddenness as it appeared.
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Comment by Tallgirl on August 27, 2012 at 7:38pm
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That's what I have concluded from all the research and experience since 1963 with this. Not sure about the proteins blocking DNA part, however.
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Comment by Jana on August 27, 2012 at 9:15pm
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Take a look at the genetic work of Dr. Angela Christiano re: AA.
I think there is a bit of a leap in what your doc is saying, as AA IS an autoimmune expression, so it cannot really be triggered BY one. And if AA is an autoimmune dysfunction, then we are most definitely NOT healthy, "even" if the only symptom is hair loss.
One of the eyeopeners for me - coming into community after three decades w AA - is that many people with AA have multiple autoimmune diseases.
I think we really need to look at this disease with a sense of balance. We can be genetically predisposed, and likely a combination of factors is the trigger, predominantly environmental. Too many people are writing about nutrition and the impact of GMOs and chemicals upon our autoimmune systems. This is something we need to consider more collectively.
And the stress argument . . Well stress makes anything worse, including autoimmune conditions. But it stress "caused" AA . . Well . . We would all be bald. Lol.
Cheers. : )
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Comment by Sandy on August 28, 2012 at 9:47am
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T think the doctor's point would be that some peoople may have autoimmune diseases which may or may not cause their hair to fall out...The falling out part is genetically predisposed as could be the autoimmune disease itself, but independent of it in many cases..... Though sometimes both the dna that is causing the autoimmune desease is also causing the AA. I guess they can be mutually inclusive and/or mutually exclusive.
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I think it is important to be clear that AA is a unique autoimmune disease, or autoimmune expression, depending upon how you look at it. Dr. Christiano's work is showing unique AA markers.
So you could be genetically predisposed to one or more autoimmune diseases, and then you may or may not experience an environmental trigger that sets them off.
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Comment by Norm on August 28, 2012 at 12:58pm
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Interesting blog... just about everything concerning the way we look is determined by genetics - eyes, skin type, height, you name it. My maternal grandfather (who was very MPB) told me when I was 8 or 9 that I'd go bald by my mid-20's, just like he did, and he was right. The fact that he then went on to develop AA (and although he was never totally bald at any time, every (remaining!) hair did fall out at some point) makes me think that there'll come a time when I go the same way, too.... I don't know what triggered it for him, but knowing it's a possibility means I'm prepared for it. Not that I'm bothered... when you're as handsome as me, you don't need hair. It says here (ahem.) ;)
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Genetics for physical features is one thing. Genetics for disease is something entirely different.
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Genetics is simply(?) genetics, and it's responsible for a L of a lot of how we turn out to be, from the way we look, to our propensity to contract ailments. I'm merely pointing out that looking back at your family history can sometimes give you a heads-up as to what might be in store down the line....
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Oh of course! But there are things we can do to take care of our bodies in relation to predisposition and presentation of disease, vs the colour of my eyes, which I may not like but does not cause me any harm in the end.
I think I am respectfully noting that we always need to remember that hair loss is a symptom in the context of alopecia. It represents something gone haywire, even if it is genetically predisposed. And the success many are having with treating autoimmune diseases via nutrition is an indication we are on a new path in this regard. : )
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And in terms of something going haywire.... as I've got older, the list's got longer... ;)
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Lol. I hear ya. But there is so much empowering information out there, as to how we can take care of our bodies. I find that with age I am getting better at hearing and responding to such things.
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