Androgenic Alopecia - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

Androgenic Alopecia is also known as Androgenetic alopecia, female pattern baldness, Male Pattern Alopecia, Male Pattern Baldness, Pattern baldness, alopecia androgenetica. This is a common form of hair loss in both males as well as females. In males this problem is also called male pattern baldness. Usually hairs are lost in a well defined pattern. The baldness starts above both temples. The hair loss occurs slowly over the years. It can start anytime after 20. There is usually a family history of hair loss. In women, the hair slowly becomes thin throughout the scalp and bald spots usually do not occur. Men first develop hair loss at the temples, followed by an enlarging bald spot on top of the head. . Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic "M" shape. Hair also thins at the crown (near the top of the head), often progressing to partial or complete baldness.

Androgenic Alopecia Causes

1. Different types of genetic factors play a role in causing andogeneic alopecia. Researchers are studying risk factors that may contribute to this condition; most of these factors remain unknown. The AR gene is associated with androgenic alopecia.
2. Age is also a big factor in androgenic alopecia. Almost all the persons have a tendency to lose hair after the age of 40. Although many of the patients show evidence of the disorder by age 30 years. It is found in both males and females.
3. Sex hormone binding globulin, which is responsible for binding testosterone and preventing its bioavailability and conversion to DHT, is typically lower in individuals with high DHT. SHBG is down regulated by insulin.

Androgenic Alopecia Symptoms

1. Males with androgenetic alopecia typically have a receding hairline and moderate to extensive loss of hair. This occured especially on the front and top of the head. The remaining hair tends to feel a little finer and shorter than normal. Male pattern baldness can start as early as the teenage years.
2. Women with androgenetic alopecia experience overall thinning of their hair. e.g.  where there used to be five hairs, there may only be two. Most of the hair that’s lost is on the crown of the head or at the hairline. Female pattern baldness usually starts around age 30 and becomes noticeable around age 40.
3. Broken hairs, or hairs easily removed.
4. One or more round or oval bald patches.

Androgenic Alopecia Treatment

1. There is some medicine which helps in restricting the hairs not to fall or in some cases to make the hair regrow. Minoxidil is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure which when applied to the skin causes hair growth in some individuals.
2. Some surgeries are also available in curing this problem. Hair transplantation is one of those. Plugs of hair are removed surgically from areas with plenty of hair and implanted in the areas with little hair.
3. Propecia is a new medication taken by mouth which treats androgenic alopecia.
4. Some people can benefit from scalp reduction. This is a surgical procedure in which the bald area is cut out.