Clinico-Laboratory and Trichoscopic Evaluation of Various Patterns of Female Baldness: A Prospective Case-Control Study

September 2019 in “ IP Indian journal of clinical and experimental dermatology ”

Sappa Ramatulasi, Manjari Annapurna Malladi, Ruttala Sri Satya, Kashetty Srujan Kumar, Anand Acharya

female pattern hair loss FPHL total testosterone DHEAS TSH serum ferritin hair diameter diversity peripilar sign female pattern baldness iron deficiency

TLDR Hormones and iron deficiency are linked to female pattern hair loss, and hair thinning patterns are similar across different types of this condition.

The study "Clinico -laboratory and trichoscopic evaluation of various patterns of female baldness – A prospective case control study" conducted by Sappa Ramatulasi et al. in 2019 involved 70 female patients aged 18-48 years with pattern baldness and 30 age-matched females as controls. The study found a significant difference in the mean values of total testosterone, DHEAS, TSH between the cases and controls. Additionally, 52% of the cases had serum ferritin levels less than the cut-off level of 40 mic.gram/L, and the mean serum ferritin values of cases were less than that of controls. The most frequent trichoscopic findings were hair diameter diversity (90%) and peripilar sign (91.4%). The study concluded that hormones and iron deficiency play a role in the etiology of Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), and trichoscopic findings did not significantly differ between the three forms of FPHL.

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Research cited in this study

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research Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Referral Center

14 citations, January 2016 in “International Journal of Trichology”

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research Prevalence of Androgenic Alopecia in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Characterization of Associated Clinical and Biochemical Features

48 citations, February 2014 in “Fertility and Sterility”

Women with PCOS often have hair loss, which is linked to acne or excess body hair but not to worse hormone or metabolic issues.

research Value of Trichoscopy Versus Trichogram for Diagnosis of Female Androgenetic Alopecia

45 citations, January 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Trichoscopy is better than trichogram for diagnosing female hair loss.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in the Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Review of 57 Patients

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Alopecia common in teens, may indicate endocrine issue, minoxidil effective treatment.

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84 citations, November 2003 in “European journal of endocrinology”

Women with androgenic alopecia are more likely to have polycystic ovaries and higher androgen levels, which may indicate PCOS.

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83 citations, November 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

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157 citations, July 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

AGA more common in men, Koreans have lower rates and unique patterns.

research Biochemical and Trichological Characterization of Diffuse Alopecia in Women

124 citations, August 1990 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Diffuse alopecia in women may be related to androgens and iron deficiency, and basic hormone and nutrient screening is useful.

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