A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study to Investigate the Pattern and Grading of Female Pattern Hair Loss in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Patients

January 2025 in “ International Journal of Scientific Research ”

Surajit Misra, Tarang Goyal, Swati Gupta, Sumit Sehgal, K. Arora

female pattern hair loss FPHL polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS Rakowska's dermoscopic criteria Ludwig's Classification hirsutism polycystic ovarian morphology acne hair miniaturization hair shaft diameter diversity dermoscopy female pattern baldness Ludwig scale hair thinning dermoscope

TLDR 12.5% of women with PCOS experience moderate hair loss, highlighting the need for early detection and management.

This study investigated the pattern and grading of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in 640 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on 80 patients using Rakowska's dermoscopic criteria and Ludwig's Classification. FPHL was found in 12.5% of the PCOS patients, predominantly affecting those aged 20-30. Common PCOS features included hirsutism (83.12%), polycystic ovarian morphology (57.96%), irregular menstruation (65.31%), and acne (50%). Most FPHL cases were Ludwig Grade II, indicating moderate hair loss. Dermoscopic findings showed hair miniaturization (97.5%) and hair shaft diameter diversity (100%) as key features. The study underscores the significant link between PCOS and FPHL, highlighting the need for early detection and management using dermoscopy.

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