The Diagnosis and Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Most Current Management

Androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss affecting both males and females, can be diagnosed and treated with various methods. For males, treatments include minoxidil and finasteride, with some patients seeing improved results by switching to systemic forms of these medications or to dutasteride. Other treatments include topical finasteride, dutasteride in mesotherapy, and additional modalities. For females, extended lab testing for potential hyperandrogenism may be required. The review also discusses the use of 665 nm and 808 nm low-level diode lasers, a 1550-nm fractional erbium-glass laser in combination with topical 5% minoxidil, microneedling, spironolactone, hair transplantation, follicular unit extraction, natural products, botulinum toxin type A, cell therapy, topical cetirizine, and a water extract of cacumen platycladi. The authors emphasize the importance of individualized treatment plans based on the patient's specific needs and the potential side effects of each treatment.