Androgenic Alopecia is also known as pattern baldness. This is the most common term in hair loss and both genders are affected by this. Androgenic alopecia in men is also called male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss and for women its female pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss.
In androgenic alopecia, genes play a vital role in hair loss. Environment or surroundings also are a key factor. It is generally said that genetics loads the gun and surrounding pulls the trigger.
The thinning of hair can start from as early as from 12 years of age or it may not happens at all. Most of the men and women do have hair baldness sooner or later in their life.
Before getting deep in Androgenic Alopecia, let’s see how hair grow.
Hair Growth
A single hair is the combination of the dead cells of keratin. Hair growth usually begins in follicle under the skin. Hair follicle also keeps alive cells of keratin in the skin. When a cell dies, follicle pulls it out form the skin.
Each hair normally grows for 3-6 years. Hair follicle goes in the resting phase for several months. The hair cycles start when follicle starts producing new hair. A single hair grows almost 15 centimeters every year.
Average human scalp contains almost 100,000 hair follicle and the same amount of hair. Each hair follicle can have approximately 20 individual hair partners in whole human’s life.
Statistics of Androgenic Alopecia
According to the survey, it is estimated that approximately 60 million people are spending more than USD 1.5 billion on their hair treatment. Overall 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States are affected form this kind of hair loss.
Studies also show that more than 50 percent of the men will have some degree of baldness as they will cross the 50-year mark. In women, hair baldness usually starts after menopause.
Androgenic Alopecia Symptoms
- Male Pattern Baldness: It is the most common form of hair loss in men, more than 50 percent of the men, sooner or later in their lives, get affected by pattern hair loss.
In men, hair loss starts with the thinning of hair from the top of the scalp and from the above forehead. In no time, hair starts falling more than an average of 100 hair per day. Scalp started to bald from the top and hairline start moving back and makes the “M” shape.
- Female Pattern Baldness: Female pattern baldness is not the same as male pattern baldness. In female pattern baldness, crown hair usually gets thinner.
Androgenic Alopecia does not lead towards complete hair loss in women. A small amount of hair is lost especially from the central line of the scalp.
There is also a major edge on the women side, hairline stays at its position.
Causes of Androgenic Alopecia
When it is on the definition, the term androgenetic alopecia contains two of the three reasons for the pattern baldness.
- Andogentics: It can be divided into androgens, which means “hormones” and genetic means “genes”.
- Alopecia: On the other side of the space, it’s alopecia, it is a Greek word which means “baldness” or “hair loss”.
- Aging: Third cause of hair fall is time. It also plays an important role in hair baldness.
Each of these components contributes to hair loss. However, researchers are still searching for the risk factors, most of them are still unknown. Medical professionals believe that hair loss is related to androgens. If we go more specific they are known as dihydrotestosterone.
Generally, it starts while the reduction of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. According to research, men are more affected by this as compared to women because they have higher circulating levels of testosterone and enzyme known as 5 alpha reductase in the scalp.
Androgen plays an important part in normal male sexual development. It regulates hair growth and sexual drives in both men and women. Androgen’s high level in the follicle can lead towards short hair growth cycle, thinner and shorter hair.
The researcher believes that AR genes provide instructions for making an androgen receptor. Androgen receptor is a protein that allows the body to respond against dihydrotestosterone. According to researches, AR gene variation makes more activity in the hair follicle. However, it is not sure yet how these changes increase the risk of hair loss in men and women.
Cure of Androgenic Alopecia
In general, three treatments are used to treat androgenetic alopecia. Details are given below
Finasteride
Finasteride is the only oral medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1997. This medication works by stopping the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. It basically stops 5 alpha-reductase to perform its a function of conversion.
This medication is only available for men, it works on the middle to moderate hair baldness. During its trial, it turns out to be safe and effective for all the men between 18 to 40 years of age.
Result of Finasteride can clearly be seen within 6 months after the 1mg pill of regular use. After 6 months new hair growth can clearly be seen, if results are not obtained within 6-9 months patients should stop its use.
As far as now it is limited to the men-only due to its teratogenic effects. Its side effects carry testicular pain. Use of finasteride by pregnant females may cause abnormalities.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a topical product which is used for hair growth. It works by increasing the blood flow towards the resting hair follicle.
When it comes to the proper treatment or medication, nothing more effective than Minoxidil is discovered until now. Minoxidil does not permanently cure the hair loss, it just slows down the process.
Read Also: How To Use Minoxidil
Minoxidil was available in 2 concentration such as 2% for women and 5% for men. But now it is available in 5% only. The difference came in its usage, women use 1mL once a day while men use it twice a day.
Minoxidil usually takes 4-6 months to show proper results. If results are not showing up, it should be stopped. Visit a dermatologist for the proper treatment.
The major disadvantage to this medication is, it will restart the hair losing process same from where it was stopped. You need to be a regular user of this topical product.
Possible Connections with Other Disease
The medical professional is searching for the possible connection between pattern baldness and other disorders, such as prostate cancer in men and polycystic ovary syndrome in women. Doctors think that these diseases may be connected with higher androgen levels.