Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Their Epigenetic Influence on Androgenetic Alopecia

In 2012, research suggested that environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) could have an epigenetic influence on androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a common form of hair loss traditionally attributed to genetic factors. This was based on a survey of monozygotic twins with varying degrees of hair loss linked to lifestyle factors. The research highlighted the role of hormones, including prolactin and estrogen, in regulating hair growth in both genders. It was suggested that environmental factors, including diet and exposure to certain chemicals, could influence hormonal and epigenetic homeostasis, potentially affecting hair growth and AGA. EDCs, which can interfere with hormone synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination, were believed to cause increases in various health conditions, including hair loss in AGA. However, the exact effects of EDCs on AGA were not fully understood and further research was needed.