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Androgenetic Alopecia Symptoms

Pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. Loosely defined as excessive hair loss from the scalp, baldness can be caused by heredity, an underlying medical condition or certain medications, and it can affect anyone--men, women or children. It is most common in men, affecting an estimated 35 million men in the United States, according to Genetics Home Reference. More than 50 percent of men older than 50 have some hair loss. In women, androgenetic alopecia is most likely to occur after menopause.

  1. Symptoms in Men

    • When androgenetic alopecia affects men, it's more commonly known as male-pattern baldness. Hair loss begins above the temples and continues in a clear pattern, eventually forming an "M" shape, according to Genetics Home Reference. The hair also thins at the crown of the head and the typical result is partial or total baldness. Medical conditions that have been associated with androgenetic alopecia in men include coronary heart disease, enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

    Symptoms in Women

    • Androgenetic alopecia progresses differently in women. Rather than thinning in a well-defined pattern, women's hair gets thinner on the entire head, and the hairline doesn't recede, according to Genetics Home Reference. In women, the condition rarely results in complete baldness. Androgenetic alopecia in women has been associated with a heightened risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition of hormonal imbalance that can cause irregular menstruation, weight gain, acne and excess body hair.

    Shorter Growth Cycles

    • Most people shed up to 100 hairs a day, a loss that usually isn't noticeable from approximately 100,000 hairs on a scalp. And hair normally goes through cycles of growing and resting. But in androgenetic alopecia, the growth phase is shorter and the hairs grow in thinner. During each cycle of growth, the hairs are rooted more superficially and therefore fall out more easily, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Family History

    • If there's a family history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family, you are more likely to have the condition. Other androgenetic alopecia symptoms tied to heredity include your age when you start losing hair, the speed with which you lose it, the baldness pattern that develops, and whether you eventually lose all of your hair, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Treatment Options

    • Androgenetic alopecia differs from most other types of hair loss in that it's usually permanent rather than temporary. Many people choose to embrace the baldness as it progresses, or to hide it with hats, scarves or wigs.
      But people who want to more aggressively fight the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia have a few options as well. Certain FDA-approved drugs, such as over-the-counter minoxidil (Rogaine) and prescription finasteride (Propecia)--which is approved for use in men but not in women--may slow hair loss and encourage new hair growth, according to the Mayo Clinic. If these efforts fail, people with androgenetic alopecia may consider surgical options such as hair transplants and scalp reduction.

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