features of androgenic alopecia in men

Last reviewed 11/2022

Male AGA is seen in all ethnicities

• the highest prevalence is seen amongst the Caucasians with around 80% of men aged over 70 years having AGA
• in Asians the reported prevalence is 47-60% in males older than 70 years
• older studies report that balding in African-American men is four times less common than compared to Caucasians (2)

The frequency and severity increases with age in every population (2)

Genetic factors predisposes to AGA

• the current scientific data suggest that AGA is a polygenic disorder
• there are strong concordance rates of between 80% and 90% for monozygotic twins
• risk of developing AGA is greatly increased in men with a father suffering from AGA than in men with a non-balding father (2)

Although AGA is androgen dependant, almost all men with AGA have a normal circulating androgen level

• it is thought to be due to increased androgen receptor density and/or increased activity of 5-alpha-reductase type II in genetically predisposed hair follicles (2)

Reference:

• 1. Olsen EA et al. Evaluation and treatment of male and female pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;52(2):301-11
• 2. Blume-Peytavi U et al. S1 guideline for diagnostic evaluation in androgenetic alopecia in men, women and adolescents. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164(1):5-15.