Gender Differences in Scalp Hair Growth Rates Are Maintained but Reduced in Pattern Hair Loss Compared to Controls

The study analyzed 59,765 anagen hairs from Caucasian individuals, including both healthy controls and those with pattern hair loss, to assess differences in linear hair growth rate (LHGR) and hair diameter by gender and health status. It found that women's hair generally grew faster than men's, and thicker hairs had higher growth rates. However, both men and women with pattern hair loss had slower hair growth rates compared to healthy controls with similar hair thickness. The severity of hair loss in men was linked to further reduced growth rates, but the study could not statistically evaluate this in women with severe hair loss due to a small sample size. The study suggests that LHGR is a significant factor in the reduced hair volume seen in pattern hair loss and may have prognostic value, especially in early-onset female pattern hair loss. The study included 28 males with mild, 24 with moderate, and 15 with severe male pattern hair loss, and 58 females with mild, 47 with moderate, and 7 with severe female pattern hair loss. It concluded that LHGR could be an early indicator of pattern hair loss in females, with hair diameter and gender-specific factors also playing roles in hair growth and volume.