Epidemiological Landscape of Androgenetic Alopecia in the US: An All of Us Cross-Sectional Study

February 2025 in “ PLoS ONE ”

Aditya K. Gupta, Tong Wang, Vasiliki Economopoulos

androgenetic alopecia finasteride oral minoxidil spironolactone Post-Finasteride Syndrome topical minoxidil AGA Propecia Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Spironolactone →

powerful topical and oral anti-androgen used mostly by women

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This study provides an overview of androgenetic alopecia in the USA, highlighting social determinants, differences in onset between genders, and how management varies by age and gender.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This cross-sectional study using the All of Us dataset analyzed the prevalence and treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 266,612 participants in the US. It found that AGA typically begins earlier in males (20-39 years) than in females (60-69 years), with treatment for males often including finasteride and oral minoxidil, while females are prescribed spironolactone and oral minoxidil, with finasteride used post-menopause. The study noted a significant drop in finasteride prescriptions after reports of Post-Finasteride Syndrome in 2011. AGA incidence was higher among individuals with higher income, education, and alcohol use. In females, AGA was more frequently reported in those with anxiety and depression, suggesting a link between AGA and mental health. The study highlights the influence of social determinants on AGA and suggests that addressing AGA may improve overall health management. Limitations include potential inaccuracies in electronic health record data and the exclusion of over-the-counter treatments like topical minoxidil.

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Research cited in this study

16 / 16 results

research The Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias

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research Androgenetic Alopecia: Therapy Update

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research Female Pattern Hair Loss: Therapeutic Update

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This article reviews treatment options for female-pattern hair loss, noting the limited evidence for most therapies and emphasizing that topical minoxidil remains the only well-supported option despite a significant non-response rate.

research Alopecia Areata and Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia) on Social Media – Current Public Interest Trends and Cross-Sectional Analysis of YouTube and TikTok Contents

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This study found that TikTok videos about alopecia areata focusing on personal experiences, especially from women, were more engaging, while YouTube videos from healthcare providers rated higher in quality and accuracy.

research An Update on Alopecia and Its Association With Thyroid Autoimmune Diseases

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This review explores the association between alopecia and thyroid autoimmune disease, also highlighting a linked increased risk of thyroid cancer, but presents no new clinical findings.

research Global Online Interest in Finasteride Sexual Side Effects

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This study found that global online interest in finasteride and its sexual side effects significantly increased after the FDA issued safety warnings in 2011.

research The Inflammatory Component of Androgenetic Alopecia

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This article discusses hormonal mechanisms underlying androgenetic alopecia but does not report any new findings; it reviews the roles of dihydrotestosterone and available FDA-approved treatments.

research Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia: Efficacy, Side Effects, Compliance, Financial Considerations, and Ethics

17 citations , November 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This review discusses treatment options for androgenetic alopecia, highlighting the need for personalized, evidence-based approaches but reports no new clinical results.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: Relationship to Anthropometric Indices, Blood Pressure and Lifestyle Habits

13 citations , February 2020 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

In this study, men with androgenetic alopecia had lower BMI and waist-to-hip ratios than controls, but no significant association with hypertension or other lifestyle factors was observed.

research Genetic and Molecular Aspects of Androgenetic Alopecia

24 citations , January 2018 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

This review discusses advances in molecular biology and genetics related to androgenetic alopecia and reports no new clinical results.

research The Combination of Overweight and Smoking Increases the Severity of Androgenetic Alopecia

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This study found that among Caucasian individuals with androgenetic alopecia, being overweight and smoking were associated with greater severity of the condition.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review

153 citations , March 2017 in “Endocrine”

This review examines recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia, highlighting two major genetic risk loci, but does not report new clinical findings.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update

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This article reviews recent advancements in understanding and treating androgenetic alopecia, focusing on new genetic insights, stem cell roles, and diagnostic tools, without reporting new clinical results.

research Psychological Effect, Pathophysiology, and Management of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

112 citations , October 2005 in “Mayo Clinic Proceedings”

This article reviews the clinical, psychological, and management aspects of androgenetic alopecia in men, stating that it can be effectively managed by generalist clinicians with pharmacotherapy and surgical advancements.

research Burden of Hair Loss: Stress and the Underestimated Psychosocial Impact of Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

162 citations , August 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study suggests that stress negatively affects hair growth by inducing inflammation and early hair cycle transitions in mice, which might inform strategies for managing stress-related hair loss in humans.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Men Aged 40-69 Years: Prevalence and Risk Factors

155 citations , December 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

In this study, the researchers did not confirm previously reported links between AGA and smoking or benign prostatic hypertrophy, but found potential associations with alcohol consumption and lean body mass at age 21 that merit further investigation.