Can I Pass Alopecia on to My Children?

It is possible, but not likely, for alopecia areata to be inherited. Most children with alopecia areata do not have a parent with the disease, and the vast majority of parents with alopecia areata do not pass it along to their children.

Alopecia areata is not like some genetic diseases in which a child has a 50-50 chance of developing the disease if one parent has it. Scientists believe that there may be a number of genes that predispose certain people to the disease. It is highly unlikely that a child would inherit all of the genes needed to predispose him or her to the disease.

Even with the right (or wrong) combination of genes, alopecia areata is not a certainty. In identical twins, who share all of the same genes, the concordance rate is only 55 percent. In other words, if one twin has the disease, there is only a 55 percent chance that the other twin will have it as well. This shows that other factors besides genetics are required to trigger the disease.

Source: Adapted from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Part 1: What is alopecia areata?

Part 2: Is alopecia heredity?

Part 3: Is my hair loss a serious disease?

Part 4: Treatments for alopecia

Part 5: Will my hair grow back?

Part 6: How can I cope with alopecia?

Part 7: What can I expect later in life?

Further information:  www.alopecia-sydney.com