35 citations
,
July 2018 in “Cell Reports” This study found that the dermal papilla of the hair follicle regulates stem cell quiescence and regeneration by modulating Shh and Wnt signaling pathways, highlighting the importance of signaling cross talk in regeneration.
39 citations
,
March 2018 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This review describes the molecular interactions between androgens and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in androgenetic alopecia but reports no new experimental or clinical findings; the authors discuss potential Wnt/ß-catenin-targeted treatments for hair growth.
13 citations
,
February 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This study found that 65.2% of female pattern hair loss patients showed significant hair growth improvement with a daily dosage of 2.5 mg finasteride, with better outcomes in patients with lower initial Ludwig scores and older age at onset.
16 citations
,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” In this study, minoxidil significantly downregulated interleukin-1 alpha expression in human keratinocyte cells, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect that may be a mechanism of action in treating alopecia.
29 citations
,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” This meta-analysis reported that platelet-rich plasma injections for androgenetic alopecia may increase hair number and thickness locally, but further studies are needed to establish their overall effectiveness.
21 citations
,
November 2017 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This study found that women with female pattern hair loss had increased 5α-reductase isozymes and decreased aromatase mRNA levels, potentially affecting their response to treatment.
17 citations
,
September 2017 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” In this study of women with PCOS, hirsutism strongly correlated with metabolic abnormalities, while acne and androgenic alopecia were not clear markers of biochemical hyperandrogenemia or metabolic dysfunction.
43 citations
,
April 2017 in “Experimental Dermatology” This review summarizes the genetic studies on female pattern hair loss, highlighting the lack of clearly identified susceptibility loci and suggesting distinct aetiological differences from male pattern hair loss.
27 citations
,
March 2017 in “Current Clinical Pharmacology” In this review, the authors discuss the pharmacology of dutasteride and compare its efficacy to finasteride for treating androgenetic alopecia, highlighting dutasteride's effectiveness demonstrated in several clinical trials.
64 citations
,
March 2017 in “Nature communications” This study identified 63 genetic loci associated with male-pattern baldness, uncovering genes and pathways that may help develop treatments and suggesting its connection to other human conditions.
21 citations
,
February 2017 in “International Journal of Women's Dermatology” This review discusses the physiology and potential hormonal mechanisms involved in female pattern hair loss, as well as the current hormonal and hormone-modifying treatments available, but reports no new research findings.
79 citations
,
January 2017 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual” This article addresses the need to screen for nutrient deficiencies in patients with hair loss but reports no new findings, noting that supplementation without deficiency may not be beneficial and could pose risks.
28 citations
,
January 2017 in “Indian Dermatology Online Journal” In this study, skin manifestations such as hirsutism and acne were prevalent among women with PCOS, highlighting their importance in diagnosis and symptomatology.
30 citations
,
May 2016 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” This study found that apoptosis was more prevalent in hair follicles of women with female pattern hair loss, particularly in miniaturized follicles, and was associated with follicular inflammation.
47 citations
,
April 2016 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine” This review found that low-level laser therapy appears promising in improving hair regrowth and patient satisfaction in androgenetic alopecia, though results should be interpreted cautiously.
14 citations
,
February 2016 in “Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research” In this study, the authors concluded that clinical hyperandrogenism is not a reliable predictor for biochemical hyperandrogenism in Thai women with PCOS.
46 citations
,
February 2016 in “Experimental Dermatology” This review discusses the genetic research developments in androgenetic alopecia, reporting no new clinical results, and highlights the potential for discovering novel therapeutic targets.
19 citations
,
February 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that the presence of CD3(+) T-cells within empty follicular fibrous tracts is a reliable indicator for diagnosing diffuse alopecia areata instead of pattern hair loss.
23 citations
,
January 2016 in “International Journal of Trichology” This study found that women with female pattern hair loss had significantly lower serum Vitamin D3 levels compared to healthy controls.
53 citations
,
December 2015 in “JAMA Dermatology” This study found that hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans are the most reliable skin markers for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome in women and suggest a need for further evaluation of possible metabolic issues.
26 citations
,
December 2015 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This article introduces a new grading system called the FPHL Severity Index to better identify and monitor early stages of female pattern hair loss using clinical criteria.
26 citations
,
September 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, spironolactone was reported to stabilize or improve female pattern hair loss in 74.3% of treated women, especially those with signs of hyperandrogenism.
19 citations
,
January 2015 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology” In this study, researchers observed that 90% of patients with PCOS had cutaneous manifestations, with acne most common, and found associations between these skin conditions and high insulin or testosterone levels.
151 citations
,
May 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” This review concluded that oral finasteride for men and topical minoxidil for both genders have the most evidence supporting their effectiveness and safety for treating androgenetic alopecia.
16 citations
,
March 2014 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This study found that acne was the most common dermatological manifestation in Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome, particularly those with a specific combination of symptoms, showing distinct variations in serum hormonal and metabolic parameters.
48 citations
,
February 2014 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study found that androgenic alopecia is present in 22% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome and is associated with acne and hirsutism, but not with increased biochemical hyperandrogenemia or metabolic dysfunction beyond PCOS.
147 citations
,
January 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” This study found that low-level laser treatment with the HairMax Lasercomb significantly increased terminal hair density in both men and women with pattern hair loss, with no serious adverse events reported.
32 citations
,
January 2014 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” This study found that both finasteride and dutasteride effectively increased hair thickness in women with androgenetic alopecia over three years, with dutasteride performing better in women under 50 at specific scalp sites.
1265 citations
,
October 2013 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This guideline from the Endocrine Society recommends using the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome and outlines first-line treatments, emphasizing hormonal contraceptives and lifestyle intervention.
48 citations
,
September 2013 in “Oncologist” This study reported that alopecia is a common but often underreported side effect of endocrine-based cancer therapies, with tamoxifen showing the highest incidence of hair loss among analyzed treatments.
165 citations
,
August 2013 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine” This review discusses the potential mechanisms and evidence supporting low-level laser therapy for stimulating hair growth in men and women, while noting its safety and effectiveness but needing further study on specific parameters.
106 citations
,
April 2013 in “Dermatologic Surgery” This study found that low-level light therapy significantly increased hair density and diameter in androgenetic alopecia patients compared to a sham device, suggesting it could be an effective treatment option.
28 citations
,
April 2013 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study found that Caucasian and Asian women with PCOS in the San Francisco Bay Area had a similar prevalence of androgen excess, including hirsutism, across most measures.
40 citations
,
January 2013 in “Journal of Korean Medical Science” This study found that serum ferritin levels were lower in premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential role for iron in hair loss.
62 citations
,
January 2013 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” This study found that low serum ferritin and vitamin D2 levels are associated with hair loss in females with chronic telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss, suggesting potential benefits of screening and supplementation.
73 citations
,
January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology” This study observed that patients with various types of hair loss had significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to healthy controls, suggesting zinc disturbance may play a role in the condition.
44 citations
,
January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology” This study found that 5 mg/day oral finasteride was effective and safe for improving hair outcomes in normoandrogenic postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia over 18 months.
33 citations
,
November 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reported that female pattern hair loss was prevalent in 11.8% of women aged 30 and older and was associated with high fasting glucose, fewer childbirths, oral contraceptive use, and excessive ultraviolet exposure.
115 citations
,
September 2012 in “Experimental Dermatology” This article reviews the molecular mechanisms involved in androgenetic alopecia and the androgen's paradoxical role in hair growth, but reports no new experimental findings.
300 citations
,
August 2012 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology” This review discusses mesenchymal–epithelial interactions in hair follicle development and cycling, highlighting recent insights without reporting new experimental results.
205 citations
,
March 2012 in “Science Translational Medicine” PGD2 stops hair growth and is higher in bald men with AGA.
42 citations
,
April 2011 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy” This study found that long-term flutamide treatment reduced hair loss in women with female pattern hair loss, but liver-related dropouts were minimized at a very low dose of 62.5 mg/day.
76 citations
,
November 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, a photographic scale and questionnaire revealed that extensive central scalp hair loss was observed in 5.6% of African American women, with an association to a history of tinea capitis.
72 citations
,
October 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study concluded that iron deficiency is common among women but not more prevalent in those with female pattern hair loss or chronic telogen effluvium compared to control subjects without hair loss.
64 citations
,
June 2010 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This study suggests that 5 mg/day oral finasteride may increase hair density and thickness in normoandrogenic Asian women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
67 citations
,
February 2010 in “Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica” In this study, hirsutism in women with PCOS was strongly associated with hyperandrogenism and metabolic abnormalities, while acne and androgenic alopecia were not effective markers for hyperandrogenism.
54 citations
,
February 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This case report describes a patient with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome experiencing female pattern hair loss, suggesting that factors beyond direct androgen action may contribute to this condition in women.
126 citations
,
January 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia in Chinese men and women was lower than in Caucasians and similar to that in Koreans.
321 citations
,
December 2009 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This review discusses the role of dermal cells in hair follicle regeneration and morphogenesis and highlights their potential therapeutic implications, but it reports no new empirical findings.
77 citations
,
April 2009 in “British Journal of Dermatology” In this study, genetic variation in the CYP19A1 gene, particularly the common rs4646 C allele, was associated with an increased risk of female pattern hair loss, especially in women under 40.
90 citations
,
January 2009 in “Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy” In this study, low-level laser therapy showed no statistically significant improvements in hair growth measures, despite some patients experiencing increases in terminal hairs and shaft diameter.
105 citations
,
January 2009 in “Medicine” This study found that ethinylestradiol and high-dose cyproterone acetate significantly reduced hirsutism scores and were effective for treating acne and alopecia in women with hyperandrogenism.
129 citations
,
January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology” This study found that trichoscopy criteria can distinguish female androgenic alopecia from chronic telogen effluvium, with specific features achieving 98% diagnostic specificity.
215 citations
,
November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that dutasteride increased scalp hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss, particularly at a 2.5 mg dose, and was more effective than finasteride over 24 weeks.
38 citations
,
September 2006 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This study evaluated the effect of 2% ketoconazole lotion for androgenetic alopecia, but the results regarding its effectiveness on clinical appearance remained unclear.
1744 citations
,
August 2006 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This review discusses definitions of polycystic ovary syndrome and reports no new clinical results; the authors support using modified 1990 NIH criteria and acknowledge ongoing evolution as research advances.
100 citations
,
June 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that as hair loss severity increased in women with female pattern hair loss, the number of vellus follicles also rose, indicating miniaturization of terminal hair follicles.
352 citations
,
January 2006 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study reported that classic anovulatory PCOS was the most common androgen excess disorder, followed by mild ovulatory PCOS and idiopathic hyperandrogenism, among patients evaluated for clinical hyperandrogenism.
73 citations
,
November 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” This article reviews the potential relationship between different forms of permanent hair loss such as cicatricial pattern hair loss and discusses related conditions, reporting no new clinical findings.
63 citations
,
October 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study reports that a hair shedding threshold of 100 hairs or more may provide the best concordance with clinical diagnosis for distinguishing chronic telogen effluvium from androgenetic alopecia.
193 citations
,
August 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” This study found that the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia increases with age among both men and women in Maryborough, Australia, with 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over affected.
179 citations
,
March 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that 88% of women with female pattern hair loss who received oral antiandrogens saw no progression or improvement in their condition.
40 citations
,
December 2004 in “Dermatology” This study suggests that an increase in kenogen phases, along with rising vellus hair cycles and fewer normal hair cycles, is associated with the progression of female androgenetic alopecia.
203 citations
,
December 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This article reviews the historical developments in understanding and treating male pattern hair loss, emphasizing the role of dihydrotestosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors, but reports no new clinical findings.
29 citations
,
April 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that women with female pattern hair loss awaiting treatment tend to underestimate their hair loss severity compared to their clinicians' evaluations.
219 citations
,
March 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this 48-week trial, 5% topical minoxidil was more effective than both 2% minoxidil and placebo in promoting hair growth in women with female pattern hair loss, with notable improvements in nonvellus hair count and hair growth assessments.
947 citations
,
February 2004 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” In this study, polycystic ovary syndrome was the most prevalent cause of androgen excess, and suppressive hormonal therapy improved hirsutism, menstrual dysfunction, and acne in most patients, though side effects were common.
397 citations
,
February 2004 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This article reviews the mechanisms by which minoxidil stimulates hair growth and reports no new clinical findings.
95 citations
,
January 2004 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This study found that peripilar signs on the scalp are linked to perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrates in early androgenetic alopecia, detectable even in areas with high hair density.
4809 citations
,
January 2004 in “Fertility and Sterility” This review discusses polycystic ovary syndrome, emphasizing its broad range of manifestations and associations with risks like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events, but reports no new clinical results.
72 citations
,
January 2004 in “Dermatology” This study found that oral finasteride, at a dosage of 2.5 mg/day or more, may improve hair growth and appearance in postmenopausal women with pattern hair loss, without adverse effects.
163 citations
,
November 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata have significantly lower serum ferritin levels than those without hair loss, suggesting a potential link between these types of alopecia and decreased iron stores.
43 citations
,
October 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This article explains why modern hair transplant techniques can be effective for women with pattern hair loss, despite this being underrecognized.
86 citations
,
February 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This article discusses various mechanisms for promoting hair growth in pattern hair loss and highlights the challenge of balancing short-term measurable results in trials with the need for long-term efficacy data.
108 citations
,
January 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study found that flutamide at 250 mg daily modestly improved hair thinning in premenopausal women with hyperandrogenic alopecia over one year, while cyproterone acetate and finasteride were not effective.
92 citations
,
October 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reports that oral finasteride improved or stabilized hair loss in women with hyperandrogenism but not in postmenopausal women with female pattern hair loss.
46 citations
,
September 2002 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” In this study, depression was more common among women with androgenetic alopecia, while men showed higher levels of anxiety, aggressiveness, and a lack of adherence to treatment.
269 citations
,
August 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that 5% topical minoxidil significantly increased hair regrowth and improved psychosocial perceptions of hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to 2% topical minoxidil and placebo over 48 weeks.
239 citations
,
July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This review explores the role of nutritional factors in hair loss, noting that iron and l-lysine supplementation may benefit some individuals, while excessive supplements can lead to hair shedding.
86 citations
,
July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This review discusses female pattern hair loss, emphasizing its complex causes and the limited treatment options available, and reports no new clinical results.
149 citations
,
June 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.
226 citations
,
September 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hair loss in women is genetic, diagnosed by examination and biopsy, and treated with minoxidil, finasteride, or transplantation.
116 citations
,
September 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study suggests that miniaturization in pattern hair loss may occur abruptly and can be reversed with treatment, as supported by histologic evidence in finasteride-responsive patients.
157 citations
,
July 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology” In this study, the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia among Korean men and women was found to be lower than in caucasians, with Korean men showing more frontal hairline preservation and a higher incidence of 'female pattern' hair thinning.
234 citations
,
February 2001 in “British Journal of Dermatology” FPHL affects hair density and diameter, causing visible hair loss in older women.
47 citations
,
December 2000 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This study found that women with androgenetic alopecia showed higher levels of certain hormones and lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin than healthy controls, potentially linking these factors to alopecia severity.
239 citations
,
November 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, finasteride 1 mg/day for 12 months did not improve hair growth or slow hair thinning in postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.
158 citations
,
February 2000 in “Archives of dermatology” This study reports that some patients with androgenetic alopecia may also exhibit clinical and histological features of inflammation and fibrosis, similar to those found in lichen planopilaris.
145 citations
,
December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Finasteride 1mg helps reverse hair miniaturization in men and postmenopausal women.
110 citations
,
September 1999 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This case report describes a young woman with hypopituitarism who experienced hair loss typical of female androgenetic alopecia without detectable androgens, suggesting this hair loss pattern may not always be androgen dependent.
15 citations
,
August 1999 in “Archives of Dermatology” 
129 citations
,
June 1999 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study found that hair density is significantly lower in African Americans compared to whites, which may affect the evaluation and diagnosis of scalp biopsy specimens in this population.
90 citations
,
January 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This article highlights a specific, yet largely unrecognized, sign that aids in diagnosing androgenetic alopecia in women, emphasizing its practical application in clinical settings.
227 citations
,
January 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinology” This study found that dermal papilla cells from balding scalp hair follicles have significantly higher levels of androgen receptors than those from non-balding follicles, supporting their in vivo androgen response.
92 citations
,
January 1998 in “Dermatology” This study found that 2% ketoconazole shampoo improved hair density and anagen follicle proportion in androgenic alopecia similarly to minoxidil treatment, suggesting a potential role for Malassezia in inflammation.
416 citations
,
September 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” People with hair loss have more androgen receptors and enzymes in certain follicles, with men and women showing different patterns.
234 citations
,
December 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The authors concluded that chronic telogen effluvium in middle-aged women presents distinct clinical and histological features that differ from androgenetic alopecia and acute telogen effluvium.
154 citations
,
October 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” This study found that 17-beta-estradiol inhibits hair growth in mice by blocking hair follicles in the telogen phase, whereas an estrogen receptor antagonist promotes hair growth by initiating anagen.
24 citations
,
October 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study suggests that in women with androgenic alopecia and men with premature balding, enhanced 5α-reductase activity and altered androgen conjugation, favoring sulfurylation, may be involved in scalp hair loss.
325 citations
,
June 1994 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study observed that progressive frontal recession in postmenopausal women may exhibit features of fibrosing alopecia, suggesting a distinct reaction pattern from typical lichen planopilaris.
309 citations
,
May 1993 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study concluded that horizontal sections of scalp biopsy specimens provide more diagnostic information for male pattern androgenetic alopecia than vertical sections and can predict hair regrowth potential following topical minoxidil therapy.
32 citations
,
January 1990 in “Clinical Endocrinology” This study found that women with female pattern androgenic alopecia have significantly higher levels of certain androgens and androgen sulfates compared to normal premenopausal women, suggesting markers for diagnosis and treatment efficacy.
143 citations
,
October 1988 in “Clinics in Dermatology” This review discusses the histopathology of male-pattern baldness and highlights ongoing disputes over several aspects, including sebaceous gland size and follicle loss, reporting no new clinical findings.
40 citations
,
March 1982 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that women experiencing diffuse hair loss had significantly lower levels of plasma sex-hormone binding globulin compared to controls, while their testosterone levels remained normal.
666 citations
,
September 1977 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This article presents a classification system for stages of female-pattern androgenetic alopecia to aid early diagnosis and mentions existing systems for rare male-pattern cases, but reports no new clinical results.
