Hair Loss and Hirsutism in the Elderly

February 2002 in “ Clinics in Geriatric Medicine ”

Maria Hordinsky, Marty E. Sawaya, Janet L. Roberts

hair loss hirsutism hormonal abnormalities graying telogen effluvium androgenetic alopecia senescent alopecia topical minoxidil corticosteroids alopecia areata finasteride androgen-blocking agents hair removal techniques hair removal lasers Vaniqa cream Rogaine Propecia Vaniqa

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This review discusses the biology of hair follicles and common hair disorders in the elderly but reports no new clinical results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The 2002 document reviewed hair loss and hirsutism in the elderly, detailing causes, evaluation, and treatment options. It noted that nearly half of women over 60 experience unwanted facial hair due to various factors, including hormonal abnormalities. Hair disorders such as graying, telogen effluvium, and androgenetic alopecia were discussed, with telogen effluvium lacking specific therapies but potentially treatable by addressing underlying causes. Treatments for other conditions included topical minoxidil for senescent alopecia and corticosteroids for alopecia areata. Androgenetic alopecia could be treated with finasteride and minoxidil, though their effectiveness in those over 50 was unclear. Hirsutism treatments included androgen-blocking agents or hair removal techniques. The document also described the use of hair removal lasers and Vaniqa cream, which was shown to be effective in reducing unwanted facial hair in clinical trials involving women aged 18 to 80. Additionally, it highlighted the significant global market for hair care products, driven in part by the aging population.

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Research cited in this study

13 / 13 results

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

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.

research New Treatments of Hyperandrogenism and Hirsutism

9 citations , September 2000 in “Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America”

This article reviews the psychological impact of hirsutism, particularly its prevalence among women, and provides no new clinical findings.

research Alopecia Areata Update

49 citations , April 2000 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This article discusses the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, histopathology, and treatment of alopecia areata but reports no new clinical findings; it emphasizes the palliative nature of current treatments.

research Finasteride in the Treatment of Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

581 citations , October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.

research Hair Regrowth

118 citations , April 1998 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This review discusses the advancements in understanding and treating androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata but reports no clinical findings; the authors emphasize the need for further research on molecular control mechanisms.

Different Levels of 5α-Reductase Type I and II, Aromatase, and Androgen Receptor in Hair Follicles of Women and Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

research Different Levels of 5α-Reductase Type I and II, Aromatase, and Androgen Receptor in Hair Follicles of Women and Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

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.

research Chronic Telogen Effluvium

75 citations , October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This review examines chronic telogen effluvium, highlighting its distinctive features and the need for reassurance about its non-progressive nature, but reports no new clinical results.

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

83 citations , April 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

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.

research The Comparative Histopathology of Male-Pattern Baldness and Senescent Baldness

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.

research The Hair Cycle And Its Regulation

38 citations , October 1988 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

This article reviews the historical development of understanding the hair growth cycle, particularly anagen, catagen, and telogen phases, and reports no new clinical findings.

Androgenetic Alopecia: Treatment Results with Topical Minoxidil