Female Pattern Hair Loss May Be Triggered by Low Estrogen to Androgen Ratio

March 2008 in “ PubMed ”

B Riedel-Baima, A. Riedel

female pattern hair loss oestrogen androgen estradiol free testosterone DHEAS hormonal differences premenopausal women female pattern baldness estrogen testosterone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Studysummary This study observed that women with female pattern hair loss had a significantly lower ratio of estradiol to free testosterone compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential hormonal trigger for hair loss.

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The study investigated the hormonal differences between 20 premenopausal women with female pattern hair loss and 9 healthy women. It found that while absolute androgen levels were normal in both groups, the ratios of estradiol to free testosterone and estradiol to DHEAS were significantly lower in the women with hair loss. The researchers hypothesized that a lower estrogen to androgen ratio, particularly the ratio of estradiol to free testosterone, might trigger female pattern hair loss in genetically susceptible women.

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