Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Referral Center

January 2016 in “ International Journal of Trichology ”

Tee Wei Siah, Llorenia Muir-Green, Jerry Shapiro

female pattern hair loss FPHL androgenetic alopecia telogen effluvium hypothyroidism hypertension Vitamin D ferritin zinc female pattern baldness androgenic alopecia TE

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Studysummary This study observed that many female pattern hair loss patients had concurrent conditions such as telogen effluvium, hypothyroidism, and hypertension, with a significant percentage having low Vitamin D levels.

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The retrospective study analyzed 210 female patients with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) at a tertiary referral center, revealing that 85% had a family history of androgenetic alopecia. Common concurrent conditions included hypothyroidism, hypertension, and telogen effluvium (TE). Only 38% had normal Vitamin D levels, while 71% had ferritin levels above 30 μg/L, and 85% had normal zinc levels. The study concluded that TE, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and low serum Vitamin D were prevalent among the patients, highlighting the need for better treatment options and patient management strategies.

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Research cited in this study

22 / 22 results

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This study reported that Turkish males with male pattern androgenetic alopecia had significantly lower zinc and copper levels in their hair compared to healthy controls, suggesting these imbalances may play a role in the condition's etiology.

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research Association of Androgenetic Alopecia With Mortality From Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Disease

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This study found that moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia is an independent predictor of increased mortality risk from diabetes mellitus and heart disease in both sexes.

research Serum Ferritin and Vitamin D in Female Hair Loss: Do They Play a Role?

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.

research Analysis of Serum Zinc and Copper Concentrations in Hair Loss

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.

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198 citations , October 2011 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft”

This article discusses the development of an evidence-based guideline for treating androgenetic alopecia and reports no new research results.

research Iron Deficiency in Female Pattern Hair Loss, Chronic Telogen Effluvium, and Control Groups

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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.

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93 citations , January 2009 in “PubMed”

This study found that women with serum ferritin levels below or equal to 30 ng/mL have a strong association with an increased risk of diffuse telogen hair loss.

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research Low Iron Stores: A Risk Factor for Excessive Hair Loss in Non-Menopausal Women

28 citations , February 2008 in “PubMed”

This study found that low iron stores are a risk factor for excessive hair loss in non-menopausal women.

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss with a Combination of Spironolactone and Minoxidil

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research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

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.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Children: Report of 20 Cases

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research Decreased Serum Ferritin Is Associated With Alopecia in Women

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.

research Prevalence of Polycystic Ovaries in Women with Androgenic Alopecia

84 citations , November 2003 in “European journal of endocrinology”

This study found that women with androgenic alopecia had a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology and higher androgen levels compared to controls, suggesting a strong association with PCO.

research There Is No Clear Association Between Low Serum Ferritin And Chronic Diffuse Telogen Hair Loss

83 citations , November 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

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research Comparative Efficacy of Various Treatment Regimens for Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

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226 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

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The Importance of Adequate Serum Ferritin Levels During Oral Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Treatment of Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia in Women

research The Importance of Adequate Serum Ferritin Levels During Oral Cyproterone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol Treatment of Diffuse Androgen-Dependent Alopecia in Women

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This study found that treatment with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol increased hair density in women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia, particularly when serum ferritin levels were above 40 μg/l.