What causes androgenetic alopecia?

The condition is influenced by genetics and follicle sensitivity to androgen hormones. Susceptible follicles gradually miniaturise and produce progressively finer and shorter hairs.

How does androgenetic alopecia differ in men and women?

Men commonly experience temple recession, a receding frontal hairline and crown thinning. Women more often develop diffuse thinning across the top and crown with a widening central parting.

Can androgenetic alopecia be treated?

Androgenetic alopecia can often be managed. Treatment options may include topical minoxidil, prescription medication where appropriate, low-level laser therapy, hair transplantation and supportive hair and scalp care.

Pattern Hair Loss Guide

Androgenetic Alopecia

Q: What is androgenetic alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary form of progressive hair loss affecting both men and women. It is commonly known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss.

Understand the genetic and hormonal causes of male and female pattern hair loss, how follicles gradually miniaturise and which treatment options are commonly used to manage progression.

Genetic Family history plays an important role

Progressive Susceptible follicles gradually become smaller

Men & Women The pattern usually appears differently between sexes

Understanding Pattern Hair Loss

What is androgenetic alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia is the medical term commonly used for hereditary male and female pattern hair loss. It is the most common form of progressive hair loss and can affect both men and women.

The condition develops when genetically susceptible hair follicles respond to androgen hormones in a way that gradually shortens the normal growth phase of the hair.

Over time, affected follicles produce progressively finer and shorter hairs. This process is known as follicle miniaturisation. Eventually, some follicles may stop producing cosmetically visible hair.

The condition can begin relatively early in adulthood in some people, while others do not develop noticeable thinning until much later. Genetics play a large part in determining when it begins and how far it progresses.

The Biological Process

How androgenetic alopecia develops.

The process happens gradually over repeated hair-growth cycles.

Genetic Susceptibility

Certain follicles are genetically more sensitive to androgen signalling than others, which is why pattern hair loss tends to affect specific areas of the scalp.

Androgen Influence

In susceptible follicles, hormones such as dihydrotestosterone can influence the growth cycle and contribute to progressive miniaturisation.

Follicle Miniaturisation

Each successive hair may grow back finer and shorter until the affected area gradually loses visible density.

Different Patterns

How pattern hair loss differs in men and women.

The underlying condition is related, but the visible pattern often develops very differently.

Male Pattern Hair Loss

Recession commonly begins around the temples
The frontal hairline may gradually move backwards
Thinning often develops around the crown or vertex
Frontal and crown loss can eventually merge
Hair around the sides and back usually remains stronger

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Thinning is commonly more diffuse
The central parting may gradually become wider
Scalp visibility often increases across the top and crown
The frontal hairline is generally better preserved
Complete baldness is considerably less common

Treatment Options

How is androgenetic alopecia treated?

Treatment generally aims to slow progression, maintain existing density and encourage better growth from follicles that remain active.

Topical Minoxidil

An established topical treatment used in both male and female pattern hair loss. It can help support hair growth and maintain density in some users when used consistently.

Finasteride

A prescription medication commonly used in men that reduces conversion of testosterone to DHT. Suitability, risks and potential side effects should be discussed with a clinician.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Laser caps, combs and similar devices may be used as a non-invasive addition to an established hair-loss routine.

Hair Transplantation

Suitable candidates may consider surgical transplantation, which moves follicles from stronger donor areas into areas affected by pattern hair loss.

Nutritional Support

Nutrition does not remove the genetic cause of androgenetic alopecia, but adequate protein and micronutrients help support normal hair production and overall strand quality.

Lifestyle & Scalp Care

Good sleep, a balanced diet, stress management and appropriate scalp care can help reduce additional sources of shedding or damage.

Timing Matters

Earlier intervention usually gives more options.

Androgenetic alopecia is progressive, so treatment tends to be most useful while affected follicles are still producing visible hair. Once an area has been bald for a long period, non-surgical regrowth becomes considerably more difficult.

When To Seek Advice

Make sure the diagnosis is right.

Pattern hair loss usually develops gradually. If your hair loss is sudden, patchy, unusually heavy, painful or accompanied by redness, scaling or other symptoms, speak to your GP, dermatologist or another suitably qualified healthcare professional. Other forms of hair loss can require very different treatment.