Androgenetic alopecia: Quality-of-life and associated lifestyle patterns

This study investigated the impact of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) on quality of life (QoL) and lifestyle patterns in male patients in Mumbai. The study found that heredity is associated with the age of onset of hair loss, but lifestyle factors and stressful life events are not significantly affected by the onset of AGA. Quality-of-life is affected in both age groups, but younger patients seem to have better self-assurance as well as better psychological health. Hair loss affects personal attractiveness and social life, and causes low self-esteem and loss of self-confidence. The degree of visibility of hair loss affects the QoL of patients with male pattern baldness, with those with more visible hair loss scoring higher on the emotions, self-assurance, functioning, and stigmatization subscales.