Androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss, is caused by a mix of genetics, hormones, and environment, where testosterone affects hair growth and causes hair to become smaller and grow for a shorter time.
Testosterone works in different ways, including direct interaction with its receptor, conversion to other hormones for specific effects on genitalia, hair, bones, and muscle, and changes in body fat and sexual function when low.
Proper medical treatments can control and even reverse female pattern hair loss, but it's important to check for related conditions like excessive male hormone production, especially in severe cases.
Androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss, is caused by genetic factors and hormones, with different mechanisms in men and women, and can be linked to insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome.
September 2021 in “CRC Press eBooks” Androgenetic alopecia is a common hair thinning condition linked to genetics and hormones.
176 citations,
August 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Hormone treatments in transsexual individuals reduce hair growth and oil production in male-to-females and increase them in female-to-males.
75 citations,
May 1986 in “Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism” Male hormones are important for hair and oil gland development and can cause conditions like excessive hair growth and acne.
41 citations,
November 2003 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” Male hormones, or androgens, affect women's health in areas like mood and bone density, and hormone replacement therapy using antiandrogenic progestogens can improve mood disorders and alertness in menopausal women.
40 citations,
January 1994 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” Male hormones affect oil-producing skin cells differently based on their body location, and the drug spironolactone can reduce these effects.
38 citations,
October 1988 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Hormones, nutrition, and seasonal changes regulate hair growth cycles, with androgens extending growth phases and factors like aging and malnutrition affecting hair loss and thinning.
25 citations,
November 2015 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Certain Chinese herbs, especially Cacumen platycladi, can promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss-related hormone levels in mice.
22 citations,
January 2002 in “Treatments in endocrinology” Birth control pills help treat skin and hair growth problems linked to high male hormone levels.
18 citations,
December 2010 in “Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology” Women with AGA have more androstenedione and dihydrotestosterone, less copper and zinc; copper imbalance affects AGA; treatment improves hormones and minerals.
14 citations,
July 1987 in “Dermatologic Clinics” The document concludes that treating female hair loss should target reducing excess androgen and blocking its effects on hair follicles, with the best treatments being hormonal therapy, adrenal suppression, and topical minoxidil.
12 citations,
March 2017 in “Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology” Testosterone helps prevent skin damage in males by acting through both estrogen and androgen pathways.
9 citations,
March 2022 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” About 19.4% of Iranian women in the study have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, with the most common type involving irregular periods and high male hormone levels, but their heart and metabolic health is similar to women without the condition.
3 citations,
December 2020 in “Problemy e̊ndokrinologii” Male hormones may make COVID-19 worse, while substances that block these hormones could lessen symptoms.
14 citations,
June 2015 in “Toxicology and Industrial Health” Low doses of BPA can increase prostate growth and change hormone levels in adult rats.
195 citations,
November 2019 in “Clinica Chimica Acta” High levels of male hormones, insulin resistance, and obesity are closely linked and worsen polycystic ovary syndrome, but more research is needed to improve treatments.
60 citations,
September 2001 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Insulin resistance contributes to hormone imbalances in many women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
14 citations,
January 2008 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” High levels of male hormones in women without tumors are linked to metabolic problems and can be treated with metformin.
3 citations,
January 2017 in “Gynecological endocrinology” A postmenopausal woman's excess male hormone symptoms were caused by a rare adrenal gland tissue in her ovary.
September 2023 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Adolescents with hair loss show different hormone levels by sex and often have related metabolic issues.
August 2021 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Children under 10 can experience hair thinning without hormone issues, and it may improve with treatment.
December 2022 in “International Journal of Health Science” High levels of male hormones in women with PCOS can lead to fertility issues and symptoms like irregular periods, hair growth, acne, and hair loss; lifestyle changes are recommended for management.
76 citations,
November 1997 in “The American journal of psychiatry” Some autistic children may have higher levels of male hormones, which could be linked to aggression.
14 citations,
February 2016 in “Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research” Blood tests are needed to confirm high male hormone levels in women with PCOS, as physical signs alone are not reliable.
3 citations,
October 2019 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Hair loss in men is mainly caused by hormones and genes, and while current treatments can slow it down, they can't fully stop it.
2 citations,
October 2015 in “Obstetrics and gynaecology cases - reviews” Removing both ovaries may better treat increased male hormone levels and related symptoms in postmenopausal women when hormone therapy doesn't work.
1 citations,
January 2003 in “Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents” Steroid sulfatase inhibitors could potentially treat hormone-related disorders like certain cancers, hair loss, acne, and improve cognitive dysfunction.