Male Androgenetic Alopecia

December 2004 in “ The Journal of Men's Health & Gender ”

Rodney Sinclair

androgenetic alopecia male pattern baldness androgen dihydrotestosterone DHT androgen receptors dermal papilla hair follicles 5a-reductase follicular miniaturisation inflammation

TLDR Male pattern baldness involves hormone-related hair thinning, shorter hair, and inflammation.

This document from 18 years ago discusses male androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, which is the most common cause of hair loss in men. The pathogenesis involves androgen, and in particular dihydrotestosterone, binding to androgen receptors in the dermal papilla of sensitive hair follicles. The resulting hair produced from that follicle is shorter and finer and provides less complete scalp coverage. The article explores the role of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in hair loss and the varying levels of DHT production in different hair follicles. The article also discusses the self-regulation of hair follicles in response to androgens, which leads to the quantifiable difference in androgen receptor numbers and 5a-reductase activity observed between balding and non-balding areas of the scalp. The article concludes that the three key features of androgenetic alopecia pathogenesis are alteration of hair cycle dynamics, follicular miniaturisation, and inflammation.

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Research cited in this study

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research Cultured Dermal Papilla Cells From Androgen-Dependent Human Hair Follicles Contain More Androgen Receptors Than Those From Non-Balding Areas Of Scalp

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Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community What else is good. Besides the big 3.

in Chat 34 upvotes 2 months ago

Key treatments for hair preservation include minoxidil, finasteride/dutasteride, and microneedling, with additional options like specific shampoos, oils, biotin, zinc, tretinoin, clascoterone, and low-level laser therapy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, and addressing nutrient deficiencies can also support hair health.

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Finasteride and dutasteride can improve skin texture and reduce acne by lowering DHT but do not reverse aging. They may enhance skin and hair health for some, but can also cause side effects like dry skin and sexual dysfunction.

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Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

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The conversation discusses the confusion over low testosterone potentially causing hair loss, with users sharing personal experiences and knowledge about hair loss treatments like Finasteride. Some users suggest that hair follicle sensitivity to DHT, not testosterone levels, is the key factor in balding, and others discuss the side effects of hair loss medications.

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The conversation discusses the link between seborrheic dermatitis, acne, and male pattern baldness, suggesting that DHT may cause both skin conditions and hair loss. Treatments mentioned include RU58841, finasteride, dutasteride, minoxidil, Nizoral shampoo, and other topical anti-androgens.

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