What Are the Causes of Androgenetic Alopecia, and What Are the Ways to Improve It?

Until only a relatively recent past,

hair loss was easy to think of as a symptom

that appeared in middle-aged and older adults,

but these days, the age of people who are

troubled by this condition has become lower,

and many people in their 20s and 30s are also

worrying about hair loss, which is said to be

causing concern for many. In particular, for men,

about 50% of patients are in their 20s and 30s,

and for women, about 40% are in their 40s and 50s,

showing that the proportion of patients is

high, and the number of people suffering from

the problem of natural hair disappearing is

steadily increasing across all generations,

regardless of age or gender.

It is also said that there are various types of

hair loss. Among them, let’s take a look at the

causes of androgenetic alopecia, the most common

type, and ways to improve it.

What is androgenetic alopecia?

It can be described as a symptom caused by

genetic factors and the influence of male hormones

on the components involved in hair growth.

Among the metabolites is testosterone, which is

then converted into dihydrotestosterone and

accumulates in the hair follicles, making them

enter a resting state. Once the hair follicles

are in this state, nutrients needed for natural

hair growth are not supplied, so new hair cannot

grow in the empty space, and the existing hair

may gradually become thinner.

In women, estrogen can suppress androgen,

but the body’s hormonal balance may be disrupted.

As a result, female hormones decrease, while

androgen increases excessively, leading to hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia can be divided in more detail

into male pattern and female pattern types. In cases

with a genetic family history, the hair gradually

thins starting in the 20s or 30s, and as the

hairline and the boundary of the scalp move

backward, the temples form an M shape, the forehead

becomes wider, and shedding gradually progresses

in the crown area as well.

The speed of progression may vary from person to

person, but if these symptoms begin at a relatively

young age, they often progress to severe hair loss.

This pattern is mostly observed in men, but it can

sometimes appear in women as well. Unlike the male

pattern, the female pattern is characterized by the

hairline above the forehead being maintained while

the hair in the central area becomes thinner and

overall density decreases. If this condition

continues chronically and the hair falls out overall,

it is also characterized by a Christmas tree-like

pattern.

The degree of hair loss is mild, and cases where the

forehead becomes exposed or complete baldness occurs

are relatively rare. Sometimes, if a young woman

without a family history is suspected of having the

female pattern, it is recommended to check for the

presence of ovarian cysts. Androgen in women is

secreted by the ovaries and adrenal glands, and hair

loss caused by cysts is said to be accompanied by

hair loss on the head while body hair becomes thicker

and more abundant, along with acne and irregular

menstruation. The causes of androgenetic alopecia can

be seen as including not only family history but also

stress and environmental factors. In modern society,

stress is something almost everyone seems to have

experienced at least once, and it disrupts the balance

of the autonomic nervous system and causes changes in

immune function, which can trigger immune reactions

around the hair follicles or affect the hair growth

cycle.

Environmental pollution such as air and water quality

can also irritate the scalp, and excessive drinking

and smoking can negatively affect scalp health.

Poor eating habits and extreme dieting can also be

considered causes of androgenetic alopecia. When food

intake is restricted due to dieting, minerals such as

magnesium, zinc, and iron, as well as vitamins A, B,

and D, protein, and essential fatty acids needed for

hair growth, become insufficient.

In this case, because nutrients absorbed into the body

are prioritized for major organs necessary for survival,

the nutrients that reach the scalp and hair become

relatively reduced. In women, when they go through

pregnancy, the female hormone estrogen increases and

hair growth occurs, but the increased hormone level

drops from about 2 to 6 months after childbirth, and

once it returns to the normal range, hair loss

naturally appears.

It can also occur with the use of certain medications

such as anticancer drugs or birth control pills.

However, it is said to return to normal about 6 to 12

months after stopping these medications. To improve

androgenetic alopecia, it is best to avoid excessive

stress and overwork as much as possible, and to find

ways to relieve them that are helpful to you so that

you can maintain a positive mindset and condition.

You should also quit smoking and avoid excessive

drinking. Tar and nicotine, the main components of

cigarettes, interfere with blood supply by causing

problems in the hair roots, and cigarette smoke itself

can trigger hair loss, so it is best to avoid smoking

and secondhand smoke.

Maintaining enough sleep can also be helpful.

Ultraviolet rays can accelerate aging and damage to

hair follicles and the scalp, and if styling products

applied to the hair are exposed to UV rays and melt,

then remain on the scalp, they can harm hair health,

so it is best to avoid UV exposure. Learning and

following the correct way to wash your hair, and

maintaining a healthy diet that helps with prevention,

can also be considered improvement measures.

In addition, seeking medical care to find the right

treatment method according to individual characteristics

can also be helpful. Depending on the situation,

treatment may be provided with oral medications and

topical medications, and if the condition is severe,

choosing surgery can also be considered an improvement

measure.