Androgenic Alopecia: An Entity to Consider in Adolescence
July 2017
in “
Case Reports
”
TLDR Hair loss, known as androgenic alopecia, can start in teenage years and may not always be hormone-related. It's important to do extra tests in young cases and remember it can greatly affect a teenager's mental health.
The document from 6 years ago detailed a case study of a 15-year-old girl who experienced progressive hair thinning since she was 11. Despite having normal hormonal profiles and no other health irregularities, a scalp biopsy revealed she had androgenic alopecia. She was treated with an oral contraceptive, oral spironolactone, and topical minoxidil solution, which improved her condition. The study highlighted that androgenic alopecia, typically prevalent in adulthood, can begin in adolescence and present in varied ways. It may not be androgen-dependent in all cases or adrenal androgens may have direct action. The study emphasized the importance of considering additional diagnostic tests in pediatric cases and the significant psychosocial impact of alopecia, especially in adolescence.
