Current Understanding of Androgenetic Alopecia: Part II: Clinical Aspects and Treatment

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was understood to begin around puberty, affecting up to 50% of Caucasian men and women over 40, with lower prevalence and severity in Asian, Native American, and African-American men. Diagnosis typically did not require laboratory tests or biopsies, relying instead on clinical assessment. Despite being trivialized, hair loss significantly impacted patients' quality of life. Many advertised treatments, including vitamins and scalp massages, lacked verification from clinical trials. Treatment aimed to reverse or stabilize hair follicle miniaturization, with patient education on the slow response and potential outcomes of therapy being crucial due to the psychosocial effects of hair loss.