Pathological Feature and Expression of Androgen Receptor in Affected Area of Androgenetic Alopecia in Various Syndromes of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The study investigated androgen receptor (AR) expression in androgenetic alopecia (AA) and its relationship with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in 80 cases. AR expression was found in various skin layers and structures in the alopecia scalp, with higher rates compared to non-alopecia scalp and healthy volunteers. The AR-positive rate was linked to hair thickness in the alopecia scalp. Notably, AR expression was higher in cases with the damp-heat syndrome of spleen and stomach than in those with liver and kidney deficiency. The findings suggested that AR is involved in AA pathogenesis, with local AR abnormalities potentially contributing to the condition.