Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss with Varying Severity

The study examined oxidative stress in 56 women with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) compared to 46 healthy controls. Results indicated that FPHL patients had significantly higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lower activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and total antioxidant capacity. More severe FPHL was associated with higher MDA levels and a significant negative correlation between MDA and catalase levels. The findings suggest oxidative stress contributes to FPHL progression and that oxidative stress biomarkers could be useful for assessing disease activity and monitoring treatment.