Hair, or a lack of hair, is a part of our identity. It can be part of our culture, and it's part of what distinguishes us from other people. We can cut, color and style our hair to change its appearance, but its actual color and texture are determined by genetics. Even losing our hair is most often predetermined by genetics.
In the animal kingdom, hair is unique to mammals. No other animals have hair, and all mammals have hair at least to some extent. Even marine mammals like dolphins and whales have hair early in their lives, although it is shed later in life.
In humans, hair loss is usually hereditary, but it can also be caused by medical conditions or changes in hormone levels. It can also be a normal part of the aging process. Both men and women can experience genetic hair loss, which is commonly referred to as pattern baldness. It usually occurs slowly over time and typically follows a predictable pattern. Men usually experience a receding hairline, while women develop thinning of the hair around the crown.
It turns out, though, that baldness is fairly unique to humans. Other than humans, only three other mammals are known to experience pattern baldness like we do: the stump-tailed macaque, a primate that lives in Asia, and two dog species, the dachshund and the greyhound. One reason baldness may be so rare is that many animals rely on their hair and fur for survival, either to keep them warm or to offer camouflage in the wild.
Words to know
Genetics: Based on heredity and inherited characteristics.
Hereditary: Determined by genetic factors and passed on from parents to their offspring or descendants.
Hormone: A substance produced by an organism and transported to specific cells or tissues.
Mutation: A change in the structure of a gene that causes a variant form.
Recede: To move back from a previous position.
You may also be familiar with hairless cats. Sphynx cats do lack hair, but they were bred to be hairless. In 1966, a cat was born hairless because of a genetic mutation, and breeders then bred the hairless cat with cats that carried the gene for the mutation to produce the hairless breed.
While baldness may not be very common in mammals, animals do sometimes lose some of their hair for a variety of reasons besides genetics. Common causes include mange, parasitic mites and fungal infections like ringworm. Anything that causes inflammation or infection that damages or destroys the hair follicles can also lead to hair loss.
Some primates can experience alopecia, a condition causing hair loss that also affects humans. Alopecia in primates isn't well understood, but it generally is thought to usually be the result of stress.
In humans, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, which results in hair loss. It can affect any part of the body, but it most often causes hair on the head and face to fall out.
People with alopecia areata usually experience patchy hair loss on their scalp or body. In some cases, people lose all the hair on their head, or nearly all their hair, a condition called alopecia totalis. More rarely, people can lose all the hair on their bodies, which is referred to as alopecia universalis.
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