Alopecia and the Aging Male

The document reviewed androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss in men, which affected about 20% of Caucasian males at age 20, with incidence increasing by 10% each decade. The condition involved genetic and hormonal factors, leading to changes in hair follicle structure and growth cycles. Treatments included topical minoxidil, which enlarged hair follicles, and oral finasteride, which maintained or increased hair counts in 83% of men aged 18-41 in a study. Hair transplantation techniques also improved. The document noted potential links between androgenetic alopecia and increased risks of ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, with a study of 2,932 men showing a correlation between severe baldness and heart disease.