Androgenetic Alopecia: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Alopecia is abnormal hair loss that can be triggered by various factors such as hair thinning. Androgenetic alopecia, on the other hand, occurs when such changes are determined by genetics and the influence of certain hormones.
Despite the name of androgenetic alopecia , this type of baldness affects both men and women. It is not due to a disease or other disorder, but is mainly caused by hereditary factors.
It is perfectly normal to lose a certain number of hairs every day, as they are constantly renewing. Typically, between 50 and 100 hairs fall out every day. When the loss exceeds this number, it is called alopecia. Over time, it can lead to total baldness.
What is androgenetic alopecia?
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of baldness among the male population. As previously stated, however, it can also affect women. Some primates, such as chimpanzees and orangutans, also suffer from this type of baldness.
It is also known by the acronym AGA and is believed to affect around 60% of men in their lifetime and probably 25% of women.
What differentiates it from other forms of alopecia is the primary cause. Hair loss is due to genetic factors and this process is influenced by male hormones or androgens. About 80% of men after the age of 70 have some degree of baldness.
Causes of androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia in men is due to genetic and hormonal causes. However, there are also cases in which it manifests itself without a family history. In men, the crown of the head and the upper frontal area are the areas most sensitive to the action of male hormones (androgens) on the hair follicles.
Androgens make the hair follicles thinner and thinner. And if left untreated, they tend to atrophy over time. In men, the first symptoms of baldness appear early, between the ages of 20 and 25.
In the case of female androgenetic alopecia, there is both the genetic factor and other concomitant factors. In some cases, the course is similar to that of men. If the increase in androgens occurs before menopause, it is defined as early. When it occurs after menopause, it is called late.
In other cases, this type of alopecia in women can be associated with other factors such as iron and vitamin deficiency, hormonal disorders, anorexia nervosa, ovarian or adrenal tumors and other diseases.
Symptoms
The typical symptom of male androgenetic alopecia is the appearance of small patches without hair, especially on the forehead and on the top of the head. At first it is noticeable only when the hair is wet or the head is under a bright light source. There are seven degrees of androgenetic alopecia, but not all men reach the highest level.
In women, the hairless patch is most noticeable in the parietal region, more specifically in the line that divides the hair in half. This line gradually widens. Depending on the scale in question, androgenetic alopecia has three or five degrees. If left untreated, it can lead to total baldness.
Treatments against androgenetic alopecia
Currently, there are several treatments available for androgenetic alopecia. However, none of them permanently solve the problem and all offer only long-term results. In many cases it is necessary to continue the treatment for life. The primary goal is to slow down the course and subsequently increase the capillary density or thicken the hair.
Depending on the case, different treatments are used. Among these is the pharmacological one, based on dutasteride or finasteride. Topical treatment consisting of micro-injections of minoxidil or dutasteride is also available. It is also possible to undergo platelet-rich plasma, low-power laser, microneedling, or prostaglandin analogs treatment.
In some cases, the most recommendable treatment is hair transplantation, which consists of a minimally invasive surgery that gives quite satisfactory results. For women, the same treatments exist, but in the pharmacological field antiandrogens are used.
