Could your fingers hold the secret to your future hairline? A new theory claims to predict hair loss based solely on the length of your fingers.
Dr. Joe Whittington, a social media influencer with over 3 million followers, recently shared an intriguing idea on his platform. According to the Daily Mail, this finger-based method for predicting baldness is causing quite a stir.
Whittington explained, “This hair loss prediction has nothing to do with genetic factors, such as whether your grandfather went bald.” The method, known as the 2D:4D ratio, involves comparing the length of your index finger (2D) to that of your ring finger (4D).
Dr. Whittington cited a Chinese study that explored male pattern baldness using the 2D:4D ratio, saying, “The answer lies in the finger ratio. You just need to compare the lengths of your index and ring fingers.”
The findings suggest that the longer the ring finger is compared to the index finger on your right hand, the higher the risk of developing male pattern baldness.
For clarification, D stands for digit—2D refers to the index finger, and 4D refers to the ring finger. A study involving 240 men between the ages of 18 and 24 found that those with a longer ring finger than index finger were more likely to experience hair loss.
Dr. Whittington added, “People with a longer ring finger were six times more likely to experience baldness.”
He explained that this physical trait may indicate higher levels of prenatal testosterone. “This early exposure to testosterone makes hair follicles more sensitive to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) as we age, causing them to shrink and eventually die. Essentially, the testosterone you were exposed to before birth makes your body more sensitive to DHT, which increases the chances of hair loss as you get older.”
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is known to shrink hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
As the method spreads, reactions from online users have varied. Comments include: “What? I’m bald, but my finger lengths don’t match the pattern,” “Isn’t hair loss always genetic?” “Maybe we can prevent it early,” and “Please tell me this isn’t true!”
Meanwhile, hair loss is becoming an increasingly common concern. In South Korea, the number of people experiencing hair loss has steadily risen. According to the Hair Association, the number of patients was around 212,000 in 2016. That number grew to 230,000 in 2020, and by 2021, it reached 243,000.
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