What Causes Androgenetic Alopecia?
Factors Causing Male Pattern Baldness:
Age:
The likelihood of male pattern baldness increases with age. About 25% of men have the first signs of hair loss before the age of 21. By the age of 50, half experience hair loss and about 70% lose their hair as they age.
Hormones
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a type of androgen. Androgens are a group of sex hormones that initiate puberty and physical maturation in humans. These hormones affect hair growth on the face, scalp, chest, armpits and genitals. Medical experts and researchers think that DHT may be linked to shrinking hair follicles.
Genetics:
Men receive one X chromosome from their mother and one Y chromosome from their father through genetic inheritance.The AR gene on the X chromosome determines how androgens are produced in the body. The sensitivity of the AR gene plays an important role in determining the risk of male pattern baldness.
Symptoms of Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is characterized by certain symptoms in both men and women. These symptoms are caused by genetic predisposition and hormones. The general symptoms of this condition, which can progress in different ways in men and women, are as follows:
- Thinning and weakening of the hair
- Expansion of hair loss areas
- New hair grows thinner and shorter
- Receding hairline (especially in men)
Symptoms of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men
In men, the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia are usually more pronounced and specific:
- A circular hair loss is observed in the crown area.
- The hairline recedes starting from the temples and hair loss occurs in these areas.
- The hairline usually recedes in an “M” shape.
- Hair loss at the crown and temples combines over time to form a “U” shaped appearance.
- Male pattern baldness is usually noticed in the 30s, but can sometimes start in the late teens or early 20s.
Symptoms of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women
Symptoms of androgenetic alopecia in women may be more diffuse and less pronounced than in men:
- Hair loss in women is more diffuse and homogeneous.
- Thinning and thinning is particularly noticeable at the crown of the head.
- In women, the hairline is usually preserved, but the hair density is reduced.
- The hair parting is markedly widened and more scalp is visible.
- In women, androgenetic alopecia usually becomes apparent in the postmenopausal period, i.e. in the 40s and 50s.
These symptoms are important for early diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia and for determining appropriate treatment methods. These symptoms in both men and women can be controlled with appropriate treatment and management.