Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia

Within the Untied Kingdom "androgenetic alopecia" is a common form hair loss that affects up to 50% of men and in as many as 75% of postmenopausal women that seek medical treatment fr baldness. In males, this condition is usually known as "male pattern baldness" and as "postmenopausal hair loss" in women.

Androgenetic alopecia typically appears in men as hair loss that is first over the temples that then gradually spreads to the top of the head. In women, the hair loss usually begins at the top of the head but will only rarely involve other areas of the scalp. In both sexes, the onset of androgenetic alopeica is gradual and the condition is quite easily diagnosed based upon its clinical history and examination of a hair sample under a microscope.

Non-surgical treatment of andrgenetic alopecia is usually accomplished by with the drugs minoxidil or finasteride. Minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp according to instructions provided by the physician, while finasteride is taken orally. Finasteride cannot be used in female patients because its use is associated with the risk of a serious birth defect in the children of women that have this drug.

Surgical treatment of androgenetic alopecia is similar to that offered for other types of baldness. These options are discussed in greater detail in other sections of this web site.

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