FAQ: Hair-loss and Balding Part 1: Pathophysiology and some treatment agents Pattern Balding: *incidence in males roughly corresponds to age (i.e.,at age 35, about 35% of males have it ). Incidence in women half to third this, at least before menopause. *Inheritance complicated.  Possibly: autosomal dominant with mixed penetrance . Translation: you can inherit from mom or dad and it expresses itself variably. *What you inherit is susceptibility to male sex hormones. multiple factors, including increased uptake, conversion to more active forms, receptor sites may be involved. *Four major androgens: Testosterone, DHT, DHEA, and androstenedione.  DHT most potent