eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Adnexa

Androgenetic Alopecia: Follow-up

Author: Robert P Feinstein, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 22, 2009

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • The prognosis of androgenetic alopecia is unknown.
    • Some patients progress to the point where they lose almost all of the hair on the scalp.
    • Others have a patterned or nonpatterned thinning but retain a considerable number of scalp hairs.
    • Women with the disorder usually show thinning of the crown rather than developing truly bald areas.

Patient Education

 


More on Androgenetic Alopecia

Overview: Androgenetic Alopecia
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Androgenetic Alopecia
Treatment & Medication: Androgenetic Alopecia
Follow-up: Androgenetic Alopecia
References

References

  1. Stough D, Stenn K, Haber R, et al. Psychological effect, pathophysiology, and management of androgenetic alopecia in men. Mayo Clin Proc. Oct 2005;80(10):1316-22. [Medline].

  2. Lesko SM, Rosenberg L, Shapiro S. A case-control study of baldness in relation to myocardial infarction in men. JAMA. Feb 24 1993;269(8):998-1003. [Medline].

  3. Oh BR, Kim SJ, Moon JD, et al. Association of benign prostatic hyperplasia with male pattern baldness. Urology. May 1998;51(5):744-8. [Medline].

  4. Ludwig E. Classification of the types of androgenetic alopecia (common baldness) occurring in the female sex. Br J Dermatol. Sep 1977;97(3):247-54. [Medline].

  5. Hillmer AM, Flaquer A, Hanneken S, et al. Genome-wide scan and fine-mapping linkage study of androgenetic alopecia reveals a locus on chromosome 3q26. Am J Hum Genet. Mar 2008;82(3):737-43. [Medline].

  6. Krajcik RA, Vogelman JH, Malloy VL, Orentreich N. Transplants from balding and hairy androgenetic alopecia scalp regrow hair comparably well on immunodeficient mice. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 2003;48(5):752-9. [Medline].

  7. Paladini RD, Saleh J, Qian C, Xu GX, Rubin LL. Modulation of hair growth with small molecule agonists of the hedgehog signaling pathway. J Invest Dermatol. Oct 2005;125(4):638-46. [Medline].

  8. Ahouansou S, Le Toumelin P, Crickx B, Descamps V. Association of androgenetic alopecia and hypertension. Eur J Dermatol. May-Jun 2007;17(3):220-2. [Medline].

  9. Su LH, Chen TH. Association of androgenetic alopecia with smoking and its prevalence among Asian men: a community-based survey. Arch Dermatol. Nov 2007;143(11):1401-6. [Medline].

  10. Headington JT, Novak E. Clinical and histological studies of male pattern baldness treated with topical minoxidil. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 1984;36:1098-106.

  11. Olsen EA, Dunlap FE, Funicella T, et al. A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. J Am Acad Dermatol. Sep 2002;47(3):377-85. [Medline].

  12. Rittmaster RS. Finasteride. N Engl J Med. Jan 13 1994;330(2):120-5. [Medline].

  13. Rogers NE, Avram MR. Medical treatments for male and female pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 2008;59(4):547-66; quiz 567-8. [Medline].

  14. Hamilton JB. Patterned loss of hair in man; types and incidence. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Mar 1951;53(3):708-28. [Medline].

  15. Kaufman KD. Androgen metabolism as it affects hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. Dermatol Clin. Oct 1996;14(4):697-711. [Medline].

  16. Muller SA. Alopecia: syndromes of genetic significance. J Invest Dermatol. Jun 1973;60(6):475-92. [Medline].

  17. Olsen EA. Androgenetic alopecia. In: Olsen EA ed. Disorders of Hair Growth: Diagnosis and Treatment. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1994:257-83.

  18. Olsen EA, Messenger AG, Shapiro J, et al. Evaluation and treatment of male and female pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. Feb 2005;52(2):301-11. [Medline].

  19. Otberg N, Finner AM, Shapiro J. Androgenetic alopecia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. Jun 2007;36(2):379-98. [Medline].

  20. Shapiro J, Price VH. Hair regrowth. Therapeutic agents. Dermatol Clin. Apr 1998;16(2):341-56. [Medline].

  21. Sperling LC. Evaluation of hair loss. Curr Probl Dermatol. 1996;8:97-136.

  22. Sperling LC, Lupton GP. Histopathology of non-scarring alopecia. J Cutan Pathol. Apr 1995;22(2):97-114. [Medline].

  23. Stern Rl, Heymann WR. Androgenetic alopecia. Clin Dermatol. 1997;2(32):1-6.

  24. Venning VA, Dawber RP. Patterned androgenic alopecia in women. J Am Acad Dermatol. May 1988;18(5 Pt 1):1073-7. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

androgenetic alopecia, common baldness, familial baldness, hereditary baldness, male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, pattern baldness, hair loss, androgenic alopecia

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert P Feinstein, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Robert P Feinstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Leonard Sperling, MD, Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: 3M Pharmaceutical Grant/research funds Other; Graceway Pharmaceuticals Grant/research funds Other

Managing Editor

Edward F Chan, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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