Addressing Androgenetic Alopecia: A Complex Disorder with a Multilateral Treatment Strategy

The 2017 review "Addressing Androgenetic Alopecia-A Complex Disorder-with a Multilateral Treatment Strategy" discussed the multifaceted nature of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a hair loss disorder influenced by factors such as heredity, hormones, inflammation, infections, nutrition, and environment. The authors emphasized the role of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in AGA, with high DHT levels linked to hair loss. They discussed FDA-approved treatments, minoxidil and finasteride, noting their varying effectiveness and potential side effects. The authors suggested a multilateral therapeutic approach, addressing multiple pathophysiological pathways, could be more effective than a single-drug approach. They also proposed that topical treatments could target hair follicles more effectively and with fewer side effects than oral treatments. Other potential treatments such as Alfatradiol, Dutasteride, β-sitosterol, Canadian willow herb extract, Fluridil, Ketoconazole, Prostaglandin F2a analogues, melatonin, and cetirizine were also discussed. The role of Vitamin D and Zinc in hair growth was also highlighted.