Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the connections we share with the remarkable women in our lives. You inherited traits that are worth understanding, like hair, skin, and aspects of aging.
Genetics play a crucial role in characteristics like our hair and skin, the most visible aspects of our inherited traits. Genes received from both parents influence the texture, color, and volume of one’s hair. These genes also impact skin type, tone, and elasticity. However, the maternal line often has a significant impact due to mitochondrial DNA—genetic material that is only passed from mothers to their children affecting various cellular processes including aging.
Hair
When it comes to hair, the inherited traits are the curls, the straightness, or the early onset of gray hair back to our mothers or maternal grandmothers. For example, the gene for curly hair exhibits a dominant pattern, meaning if your mother has curly hair, there’s a higher chance you might too. Similarly, the tendency for hair thinning and baldness can also be inherited, though this is often influenced by genes from both parents.
Skin
Skin characteristics are similarly inherited. The overall texture, sensitivity, and how soon we start to show wrinkles are largely influenced by hereditary factors. If your mother has smooth, resilient skin, you might find that your skin behaves similarly as you age. The genes responsible for producing collagen, which determines skin elasticity, are crucial in how our skin ages over time.
Environmental Factors
However, genetic legacy is only part of the story when it comes to aging. Environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, diet, nutrition, smoking, and skincare routines also play substantial roles. This Mother’s Day, it’s a perfect time to exchange stories and strategies about skincare and health that have been passed down through your family. It’s these shared secrets and habits, from the best homemade face mask recipes to the most trusted hair care routines, that weave the tapestry of family lore and practice.
This Mother’s Day, as we reflect on our inherited traits passed down from the remarkable women before us, it’s also a chance to consider the legacy we will leave. How we care for our hair and skin, and more broadly, our health, can be guided by the knowledge of our genetic inheritance but also by the wisdom imparted by our mothers and grandmothers through their own lives and experiences.
