Asian Hairline – What is the difference and is it receding?

Asian hairlines also recede and thinning conditions likewise can affect those with Asian ancestry.
In what follows, to discuss Asian hairlines we’ll necessarily need to refer to and differentiate between, people of different ethnic and DNA origins.

Asian hairlines – do they recede and thin?

The short answer is ‘yes’.

If you have visited Asian countries, you will see some males suffering from thinning hair, receding hairlines and at face value, the same types of hair loss seen in other populations. You will also see the typically much smaller percentage of females experiencing the same problems.

However, that simple answer hides some puzzling facts:
historically, Male Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenic Alopecia) amongst men in Asian countries has been lower than among Caucasian populations. This was not fully understood;

• bafflingly though, this condition is now increasing rapidly in Asia whilst remaining more or less stable in Caucasian and African populations. The reasons for this are yet again not clear, with the result being much probably inaccurate ‘guessing’ relating to changes in diet, environmental issues and so on;
• in Asian populations, the percentage of sex-based symptoms overlap between male and female pattern hair loss is higher than in Caucasian and African populations. This means higher numbers of women in Asian populations may suffer hair loss patterns more associated with Male Pattern Hair Loss and vice-versa. As you may have guessed, the reasons for this are not understood either;
• the patterns and progression of hair loss in Asian populations may be significantly different from those in Caucasian or African populations.

People’s hair is not the same

This may look like stating the obvious but there are significant differences between Caucasian, African and Asian hair. These arise from our different genetic heritages.

For example, the detrimental effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) on hair follicles and therefore hair loss, are now moderately well understood. It seems to be the case, though it remains unconfirmed, that the DHT sensitivity may be differently distributed on the head. Therefore, Asian populations may have higher DHT sensitivity on the sides whereas Caucasians may have it more commonly on the hairline.

This could explain why there are slightly different patterns of loss between different populations.

Another interesting difference is that Asian hair tends to have more layers of cuticles than African or Caucasian hair. One effect of that is that it may be more resistant to the breakdown effects of DHT though that doesn’t mean that damage isn’t happening – only that it takes longer to become visible.

What this means for Asian hair loss

While these differences are scientifically interesting, they don’t change the underlying reality for people of Asian heritage – their hair can thin and drop just as anyone else’s. The patterns of loss and timeframes may vary slightly but the final result will be the same.

Therefore, if you’re from an Asian background and are worried about your hair, it’s worth getting a rapid consultation with a hair care specialist. The effects of DHT can be countered or at least reduced, with a range of treatments that are effective irrespective of your ethnicity