TLDR Women with hair loss have more androgen receptors in certain hair follicles.
The study found that women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) have higher levels of androgen receptor messenger RNA (AR mRNA) in the frontal-parietal (FP) hair follicles compared to the occipital region. The study suggests that the increased AR mRNA levels in the FP region may contribute to the development of AGA in women. The study also found a correlation between the amount of AR mRNA expressed in hair follicles and the number of CAG repeats encoded by exon 1 of the AR gene, with shorter alleles presenting higher expression rates and an increased expression of the AR protein. The study suggests that enhanced AR expression can increase sensitivity to androgens in the dermal papilla cells of AGA patients.
122 citations
,
November 2010 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Male pattern baldness involves hormones and cell signals affecting hair growth.
10 citations
,
November 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” Longer CAG repeats in gene linked to more severe hair loss in females.
42 citations
,
March 2010 in “Endocrinology” Mice with human gene experienced hair loss when treated with DHT.
67 citations
,
February 2009 in “Journal of Dermatology” 147 citations
,
October 2004 in “Experimental dermatology” Hormones like testosterone affect skin functions and can cause skin issues when in excess; treatments to manage these effects are only somewhat effective.
299 citations
,
March 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Male pattern baldness is linked to specific genetic variations in the androgen receptor gene.
186 citations
,
July 1998 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Shorter CAG repeats may cause hair and skin issues, while longer ones may link to acne.
100 citations
,
September 2017 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” Male hormones and their receptors play a key role in hair loss and skin health, with potential new treatments being explored.
5 citations
,
January 2016 in “Dermatology” No significant link between CAG repeat numbers and female pattern hair loss in Han Chinese population.
Higher levels of heat shock protein 27 and lower levels of miR-1 can increase AR levels, leading to hair loss in men.
February 2026 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Genetics can help tailor treatments for male pattern hair loss, improving outcomes like stabilization or modest regrowth.
198 citations
,
October 2011 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” Use minoxidil for hair loss; finasteride and dutasteride for men, dutasteride for women.
