Androgenic alopecia is a typical type of hair loss in people. Hair is lost in a distinct pattern in this condition, starting above two temples. With time, the hairline subsides to form a characteristic “M” shape. Hair also thins at the crown, usually leading to partial or complete baldness.

Androgenic alopecia is a frequent cause of hair loss in both men and women. This hair loss affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. Androgenic alopecia may start at any time from a person’s teens increasing the risk with age. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), about 50 plus percent of men over 50 years are affected by male pattern baldness to some extent. As far as women are concerned, hair loss is most likely after menopause.

Symptoms of Androgenic Alopecia

The pattern of hair loss

The pattern of hair loss due to androgenic alopecia in women differs from that in men. Androgenic alopecia rarely leads to total baldness in men and women.

In men, this condition initially affects the follicles at the temples and at the vertex of the scalp, where the horizontal surface of the scalp begins to go down to the back of the head. With time, it can spread until only a wreath of hair is left. Men exhibit gradual thinning in the temporal areas, producing a characteristic M shape with gradual extension to the crown (vertex) area. 

 In women, pattern baldness is kind of more diffused, with thinning occurring over the crown while maintaining a frontal hairline in most cases. Also, in very rare cases, androgenic alopecia leads to total baldness in women. 

Although initially, researchers believed affected hair follicles could no longer make hair, now the studies demonstrate these may be dormant. The latest research also suggests therapies designed to wake up dormant follicles may effectively promote the growth of new hair. 

Other health conditions

In men, androgenic alopecia has been associated with several other medical conditions, including coronary heart disease and prostate enlargement. Additionally, prostate cancer, disorders of insulin resistance including diabetes and obesity, and high blood pressure have been related to androgenic alopecia. However, this form of hair loss in women is related to an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is distinguished by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular periods, excess hair on the body (hirsutism), acne, and weight gain.

How fast does androgenic alopecia progress?

Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is a common type of hair loss that develops mainly in men at any stage in their lives. The condition is sometimes called androgenetic alopecia. It usually takes 15-25 years to go bald, but can be quicker.

Other Names for This Condition

• Androgenic alopecia
• Female pattern baldness
• Male pattern alopecia
• Male pattern baldness
• Pattern baldness

Causes of Androgenic Alopecia

Each one of your hair strands has a growth cycle. With androgenic alopecia, this growth cycle begins to weaken, and the hair follicle shrinks, producing shorter and more delicate hair strands. Eventually, the growth cycle for every hair strand, and no new hair grows in its place.

There are undoubtedly numerous environmental and genetic factors that are most likely to play roles in causing androgenic alopecia. Although researchers have found a few factors that may contribute to this condition, most of these factors remain unknown yet.

Hormonal imbalance

According to research, male pattern baldness is linked to male sex hormones androgens, particularly an androgen called dihydrotestosterone. These androgens are responsible for various functions, including regulating hair growth. These androgens are significant for normal male sexual development before birth and during puberty. Moreover, they have other vital parts in humans, including regulation of hair growth.

Hair grows from under the skin in follicles. Each strand of hair grows for a couple of years, goes into a resting phase for a few months, and then eventually falls out. The cycle repeats itself when new hair begins to grow in the follicle. Imbalanced amounts of androgens in hair follicles can cause a shorter cycle of hair growth, and the hair strands are shorter and thinner. Additionally, there may be a delay in the development of new hair to replace shed strands.

Inheritance

The pattern of androgenic alopecia due to inheritance is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors are presumably involved. One cause of this condition is genetics or having a family history of baldness. People who have it in families or have someone with patterned hair loss in their blood relations are most likely to develop male pattern baldness. However, inherited male pattern baldness typically has no side effects. 

Health conditions

Sometimes, male pattern baldness may have more severe causes, for example, certain cancers, thyroid conditions, anabolic steroids, and medications. Please visit your doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when other health complaints accompany it.

Moreover, health conditions may cause baldness when a rash, pain, redness, peeling of the scalp, patchy hair loss, hair breakage, or an unusual hair loss accompanies the androgenic alopecia. Diagnosis of this condition may require a skin biopsy and blood tests. Researchers continue to determine the relation between androgenetic alopecia and other medical conditions, for example, prostate cancer and coronary heart disease in men and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women. 

You can stop or slow your balding process by treating the early signs of androgenic alopecia. And it can only be done by determining the underlying causes.  

Who’s at risk?

Anyone from teenage to old age can be at risk of developing androgenic alopecia. But it usually occurs in adult men, and the risk further increases as men age. As mentioned earlier, genetics plays a significant role, particularly when you get it from the maternal side of the family.

Managing Androgenic Alopecia 

Most people do not notice losing their hair health until after more than 50% of the hair has already been lost, and the remaining has been thinned. It can interfere with the proper treatment of hair. Getting medicine before it is too late can help you stop hair loss than reverse it. Hair experts urge all who suspect they might be losing their hair to seek help from a doctor who treats hair loss early on. 

Since hair loss is a progressive condition, it can worsen with time. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy connects you to expert advisors who are here to help you find what you need and begin your journey to healthier hair. 

How to treat androgenic alopecia?

As far as medications are concerned, till now, two drug formulations have received FDA approval specifically for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. There are minoxidil and finasteride. However, there are other drugs, including betamethasone and tretinoin, that have shown promise in treating androgenic alopecia.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil gained fame under the brand name Rogaine® to treat androgenic alopecia in both men and women. Researchers theorize that minoxidil may work by making nutrients more available to the follicles, carrying away built-up toxins, and increasing blood flow.

Finasteride

Finasteride was initially sold under the brand name Propecia® and is also helpful in combating androgenic alopecia. Finasteride works by synthesizing DHT by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase. This significantly lowers DHT production, the hormone that’s associated most strongly with androgenic alopecia.

Betamethasone

Betamethasone is a topical corticosteroid that treats hair loss.  

Tretinoin

Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that is very effective in restoring hair growth and even more effective when combined with minoxidil. It helps improve blood flow to the follicles and hence improves hair growth. 

Precap 4

While both of these medications are proven to work well in promoting the regrowth of hair, more research has been done that determines that the combinations of these two medications might be even more effective in treating androgenic alopecia. Based on the results of this research, Harbor Compounding Pharmacy developed a unique topical formulation known as Precap 4 that aims to target multiple possible causes of alopecia. This formulation maximizes the benefits of finasteride 0.2% and minoxidil 5%, together with two other ingredients, betamethasone 0.05% and tretinoin 0.01%, to help patients achieve optimal results.