Female Pattern Hair Loss: Beyond an Androgenic Aetiology?

The article discusses the potential role of estrogen and prolactin in female pattern hair loss (FPHL), beyond the commonly accepted androgenic cause. The authors suggest that the importance of estrogen in normal female scalp hair follicle function and FPHL pathogenesis may be underestimated and could even exceed that of androgens. They also propose that prolactin may potentially constitute another important mechanism contributing to FPHL in androgen insensitivity syndrome. The authors recommend that future research into FPHL and its treatment should not be restricted to an androgenic etiology.