Androgenetic alopecia in men and women

Androgenetic alopecia in men and women is more common than you think. Do you suffer from androgenetic alopecia and are you looking for an effective solution? Take a look at our online store and contact Newlaecu.

What is androgenetic alopecia?

The meaning of the term Alopecia has Latin origin and derives from the word Fox, because this animal in some cases loses its hair in patches. The word indicates the lack of hair, a partial or total loss depending on the type of alopecia that afflicts the subject.

The semantic content of the word Androgenetics derives from two main etiological factors, related to the terms that indicate the forms and causes through which the pathology can arise and develop:

• Andro, a word that indicates the androgenic hormones that predispose to alopecia.

• Genetics, a term that corresponds to biological predisposition, a characteristic that actively intervenes in the development of the disease, through the polygenic inheritance of hair loss.

There are several forms of alopecia that can occur and affect both men and women, the most easily treatable is circumscribed alopecia or areata, because in this case the patch without hair is rounded and occupies a small part of the scalp, partially producing hair loss and baldness phenomenon.

Androgenetic alopecia is the main cause that determines hair thinning, total hair loss and thinning, thinning hair or baldness.

This type is the most widespread and although it is not considered a true disease in all aspects, it is still a particularly complex pathology, where psychosomatic factors are very often involved that contribute to affecting the hair follicle, activating the degenerative consequences of baldness.

According to statistics, androgenetic alopecia affects about 80% of men and 50% of women and can also be referred to as common baldness given the current high prevalence rate.

The causes can be related to several factors: hereditary, psychic, physical and a mixture of these elements. Alopecia is usually experienced by those affected as a deep discomfort both psychologically and socially.

Causes of androgenetic alopecia

The terms Andros and Genetics clearly indicate that this pathology affects men more frequently. The presence of androgens (which are typically male) combined with the genetic predisposition of the hair follicle (which tends to suffer involutional stimuli), represent the two basic conditions that allow the development of baldness.

Particularly indicative are the studies of Aristotle. The philosopher, as early as the 4th century BC, realized that eunuchs (male castrated for singing) and children were not affected by baldness. From this, he intuited the close relationship between the secretion of male hormones and the lack or loss of hair. These hypotheses were confirmed in 1940 by the famous surgeon Hamilton, the first to be interested in all the phases of alopecia and its specific evolution.

One of the myths to dispel is that related to the levels of testosterone present in people who suffer from androgenetic alopecia: they are not as high as we think, nor do they produce increases in sexual potency and virility.

Androgenic derivatives are a determining factor for the development of androgenetic alopecia, the hormone dihydrotestosterone is formed in the hair follicles and functions as a precursor to testosterone, due to the involvement of an enzyme known as Type 2 5 Alpha Reductase.

Androgenetic alopecia is a disease that remains strictly dependent on multiple causes and contributing causes that work as a whole. Some are more recognizable, others fall into the less visible or perceptible realm. The less obvious causes are still equally decisive for the evolution of baldness.

These are the other causes that favor androgenetic alopecia

• Genetic Factors:

This is, without a doubt, one of the most common causes for the evolution of alopecia. The genes are transmitted by the mother, although, however, this is not always the case, as there are many cases of grandparents and parents with baldness problems that are passed on to their children.

• Hormonal factors:

Such as the malfunction of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands in men, but also problems in the ovaries, menopause, polycystic ovaries, endocrinopathies such as hypothyroidism, pituitary gland and androgen therapy or virilizing tumors, these, among the causes that allow the development of androgenetic alopecia in women.

• Food problems and dysfunctions:

A correct diet is always the best panacea because it allows you to have iron health and maintain the correct functioning of the immune system. Otherwise, other problems besides androgenetic alopecia could also arise. A slimming diet poor in vitamins, vitamin assimilation problems, anemia, anorexia, malnutrition, acts directly on the health of the skin and negatively on the well-being of the hair.

• Chemical and pharmacological products:

Some drugs that contain the Beta particle, indicated to treat heart failure, favor hair loss, just as aggressive therapies affect alopecia: we are talking about chemotherapy and the use of antidepressants.

• The psychological causes of alopecia:

At this point we enter the circle of factors that are not always easy to identify but that represent the main causes that contribute to hair loss. Above all, stress, easy to identify but in most cases, complex to eliminate. It is necessary to understand the reason for the state of anxiety and what are the factors that cause it. In addition to stress, which can be caused by countless contingent factors, fever, postpartum situations, bleeding, and negative or unpleasant emotional states are some of the causes that feed alopecia.

• Bad habits such as smoking negatively affect hair health and favor hair loss and weakening of the skin.

• Covid 19 can also have negative consequences on hair health and promote its weakening, both in men and women. The weakening of the immune system and post-traumatic stress play a fundamental role in this case.

Symptoms of androgenetic alopecia

To fully understand the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia, a fundamental distinction must be made between the clinical manifestations that occur in men and the signs that occur in women, as they are different.

• In men, symptoms of alopecia result in progressive thinning in the frontotemporal area, leading to common receding hairline, the first noticeable symptom of androgenetic alopecia.

• Partial hair loss in women occurs mainly in the frontal region, without affecting the temple area. Hair loss occurs behind the hairline, we speak of partial hair loss because this type of alopecia determines the progressive thinning of the hair, until it is almost invisible.

In subjects suffering from androgenetic alopecia, the hairless areas, that is, the bald patches of hair on the skin, are actually covered by a fine layer of hair, visible through in-depth analysis even with the naked eye.

The other symptoms of alopecia that can be common to both men and women are furfuraceous desquamation (presence of dandruff and scales) and seborrhea (excessive production of sebum, manifested by particularly shiny skin). 

Although these are symptoms not always associated with this specific type of alopecia, they are very often part of it.

Diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia

Making a correct diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia is the only way to solve the problem of hair loss, as long as it is done on time. For this reason, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as the first signs of this pathology appear.

However, in cases where alopecia is hereditary, it is possible to solve the aesthetic problem through the use of skin patches, hair prosthesis and wigs. In the Newlacecu virtual catalog there is a wide range of high quality solutions.

Careful evaluation of the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia is essential both to prevent hair loss and to treat it.

Here are all the steps to make an accurate diagnosis carefully avoiding a “do-it-yourself” approach, which could backfire and worsen the problem, making it irreversible.

• Relying on a specialized center to treat baldness is undoubtedly the best way to diagnose androgenetic alopecia. For more information, you can contact Newlacecu.

• An accurate dermatological examination is undoubtedly the first step in discovering the presence of alopecia, differentiating it according to genetic, psychosomatic, hormonal imbalance or other sources, which allow the pathology to manifest and develop.

• A blood test is the best way to find out if there are diseases that can cause hair loss, such as diabetes, psoriasis, thyroid, and lupus.

• The trichological analysis allows a more precise diagnosis because it is carried out by taking a hair sample, thus allowing a specific analysis of the problem.

• Family or personal history, clinical examinations, photographic evaluations, are all kinds of clinical-instrumental data that participate in the analysis of the Trichologist Dermatologist.

• In the case of androgenetic alopecia, there are no specific preventive routes, since this pathology acts due to hormonal and genetic causes, which manifest themselves more decisively depending on the psychophysical state of the patient and the lifestyle they lead. In this case, it is essential to adopt a virtuous behavior to avoid favoring the development of alopecia and the worsening of hair and hair conditions.

How to behave so as not to worsen androgenetic alopecia

The behaviors and habits to avoid in order not to favor the development of androgenetic alopecia are few but essential, these tips apply to both men and women.

• Do not wash your hair too often during the week and avoid aggressive products, always choose a type of shampoo suitable for your scalp (specific products for oily, dry, brittle hair, etc.). This is the first advice to follow.

• Do not traumatize your hair with aggressive chemical products such as dyes, gels and any product that is not natural.

• Do not stress the hair with straightening, do not use aggressive treatments and pay special attention even to the hairstyle, avoiding high intensity movements and tearing of the strands with the comb.

Impact of androgenetic alopecia

At this point we are already at the heart of the matter and it is essential to analyze the impact that androgenetic alopecia can have on both men and women.

We firmly enter the field of psychology, since the main impact of androgenetic alopecia in men and women is of a psychic nature.

In the first place, there can be a loss of self-esteem directly proportional to the level of baldness: the more hair falls out, the greater the psychic depression suffered by the subject, especially due to the inevitable change of image together with the aesthetics and the perception that one has of himself.

Loss of self-esteem can cause a situation of emotional stress. As has already been analyzed, this factor is not only one of the causes that contribute to the worsening of alopecia, but it can become decisive if it is not stopped in time.

We should never underestimate the impact that androgenetic alopecia can have on men and women, solving the situation with wigs, skin patches, grafts and hair implants, is undoubtedly the best method to avoid a degeneration of emotional stress caused by this pathology.

Men and women suffer from the problem of hair loss in the same way because it involves a profound change in their image. If the negative psychic impact that follows is not treated promptly, it could trigger another contributing cause that actively participates in the worsening of alopecia androgenetic: post-traumatic stress.

As you can see, the causes and contributing causes of this pathology appear like an Ouroboros, that is, a snake that eats itself or, more simply put, like a dog that bites its own tail. That is why it is essential to have the specialized attention of brands and clinics as soon as possible, which work to solve the problem of hair loss with the most innovative and simplest methods to apply.

In the Newlacecu online catalog you will find the best solutions to solve the problem of androgenetic alopecia.

Treatments for androgenetic alopecia

To treat androgenetic alopecia, it is possible to use specific drugs as long as they are patented and regularly tested by pharmaceutical companies.

In any case, adopting behaviors and attitudes that do not damage the hair, such as those specified above, remains undoubtedly the best solution, especially when it comes to androgenetic baldness, because it is only possible to counteract the effects and stop hair loss, but it is difficult to fix the problem permanently.

Pharmaceutical treatments take time to prove their effectiveness, this factor could be decisive and still cause a stressful situation that would facilitate hair loss.

The drug minoxidil is for topical use and is especially effective in treating alopecia in the vertex areas, although the mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood. Another useful drug for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia is finasteride, which is taken orally.

The fastest solutions that allow you to restore the desired aesthetics in the shortest possible time are hair prostheses for men and women, skin patches and wigs. Hair implants allow you to avoid stress due to hair loss and, consequently, allow you to treat your skin with more peace of mind, without giving up flowing hair.

Frequently asked questions about androgenetic alopecia

If for men androgenetic alopecia represents in most cases a known path, for women it can become an unknown path and that is why we are going to answer the most frequently asked questions about female androgenetic alopecia.

1. Does androgenetic alopecia also affect women?

As discussed in this article, androgenetic alopecia also affects women for various reasons, mainly due to hormonal factors but also due to causes related to stress or especially intense periods, an incorrect lifestyle and an unregulated diet.

According to the most recent data, there are about 4 million of a total of 18 million Italian women who suffer from this pathology. 30% of women with alopecia are under 50 years old.

2. Can alopecia occur in both men and women?

Androgenetic alopecia can occur indistinctly in both men and women, if there are elements, factors and characteristics (physical and psychological) that favor its appearance. In general, those who are genetically predisposed to this pathology are at higher risk.

3. Is androgenetic alopecia the same as female pattern baldness?

The main difference between alopecia and female pattern baldness refers to two fundamental elements. Female androgenetic alopecia attacks all types of hair present in the body and most of the causes of this pathology are known.

To speak of female baldness is to refer only to the area of ​​the head, in this case hair loss can also be a transitory condition, a partial phenomenon.

In any case, both pathological situations can influence each other for different reasons (stress, hormones, genetic predisposition, thyroid, etc.).

4. Why does androgenetic alopecia occur in women?

The hereditary component of female androgenetic alopecia is undoubtedly the main factor, if there are cases in relatives (parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.) it is more likely that you will contract this disease.

The absence of androgens, the excessive sensitivity of the hair follicles, seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, the thyroid gland, obesity, aggressive hair treatments, coloring and even excessive forcing of the hair are elements that feed or cause female androgenetic alopecia.