Management of androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is by far the most common cause of hair loss. It affects approximately 50% of men by the age of 50 and 20 to 53% of women by the age 50. Although it is a medically benign condition, it is a significant psychosocial issue for many patients. Various different treatment options are now available for androgenetic alopecia. The best treatment option for women with androgenetic alopecia Ludwig stage I and II is minoxidil 5% solution. If it is not effective after 1 year, antiandrogens can be tried, but there are no large studies showing their efficacy and they have considerable adverse effects. Also, for patients with alopecia that is unresponsive to treatment or with Ludwig stage III, hair transplantation can be offered if the occipital donor area is sufficient. For men, we always offer minoxidil or finasteride therapy and leave the choice of therapy to the patient. Some patients may prefer a systemic agent, whereas others may favor a topical agent. If the condition is not stabilized after 1 year or if the patient wants greater hair density, hair transplantation can be discussed. There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of hair loss in recent years and the future is very encouraging. As our knowledge of androgenetic alopecia pathophysiology increases, novel targeted treatments will potentially be developed.