Androgenetic alopecia

What is Androgenetic alopecia?
Androgenetic alopecia is a very common condition in men and women. Incidence is considered to be higher in men than in women. It is a condition that occurs in 50% of similar men and women over 40 years. Over 13% of women reported premenopausale androgenetic alopecia. Still more to increase the incidence of menopausal women. It is a cosmetic condition. Frequently affects the patient psychologically. Actinic destruction may increase by encouraging higher doses of UV reaching the scalp. Men with androgenetic alopecia may have an increased risk of myocardial infarction. One can notice an increase in benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Androgenetic alopecia is a genetically determined condition. Only two drugs are approved today for treatment of androgenetic alopecia: minoxidil and finasteride. Prognosis of androgenic alopecia is unknown. Some patients progress to the point until they lose all the hair on the scalp. Others regain hair. Women with this disorder shows thinning crown bald scalp areas than real.
Pathogenesis and causes of alopecia This progressive disease is genetically determined by the gradual conversion of hair-velus immature mature in nature. Patients report shows a reduction of mature hair: velus, which is normally 2:1. Following the miniaturization of hair follicles remain in place only their fiber tracts. Patients with this disorder usually shows a typical pattern of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia is a genetically determined disorder. Androgen is required for disease progression and is not described in men castrated before puberty. Disease progression is halted if barabtii postpubertali are neutered. It is assumed that there is a hereditary dominant condition with variable penetrance and expression.
Signs and symptoms Almost all patients have an onset before 40 years, although it shows signs of patients who 30 years. Onset is gradual. Men have thinning in the temporal areas, as recasting the scalp in the anterior. The disease progresses gradually to the frontal area and vertex. Women have diffuse hair loss on the crown. Bitemporala hair thinning in women but meet lesser degree than men. In general, women maintain a frontal hair line.
Physical Exam In women and men with androgenetic alopecia hair transition to mature, thick, pigmented in the thin, short, undetermined and finally to velus is gradual. As the disease progresses, the anagen phase shortens while the telogen remains constant. As a result more hairs are in telogen phase, the patient noticed increased hair loss. The end result may be a bald area. These areas differ from patient to patient and are more marked in the vertex. Women with androgenetic alopecia generally lose hair diffusely in the crown. This occurs through the gradual thinning hair than through a bald area. This area is marked above. Front line is preserved.
The diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia Laboratory studies: -In women if it is clear formulations will be tested and total testosterone dihydrotestosterone -If this one will get thyroid disease thyrotropin levels Telogen effluvium, if present in serum iron will be tested and will perform a biopsy to detect a disease papuloscuamoasa.
Histological examination. The hairs are miniaturized. Hair diameter varies. Residual fibrous tracts can be observed. Although androgenetic alopecia is considered a form of alopecia neinflamatorie over time can describe an inflammatory permeated perifolicular. Report increases in telogen: anagen. The differential diagnosis is made with the following conditions: alopecia areata, anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium, alopecia senescence, virilizarii associated alopecia, hypo and hyperthyroidism, hypertension and smoking.
Treatment of androgenic alopecia Only two drugs are approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: minoxidil and finasteride.
Minoxidil. Although the method of action is unknown, minoxidil prolongs anagen phase and increases the supply of blood to the follicles. Regeneration is most pronounced at the vertex than in frontal areas and is not noted for at least four months. Topical treatment is necessary indefinitely because discontinuation continuously produce a fast reverse alopecia. Patients who respond best to treatment are those with an onset of alopecia and small areas of hair loss. The agent sells the solution of 2% and 5%. 5% solution seems more efficient.
Finasteride. It is administered orally and is an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase type 2. There is an antiandrogen. The agent may be used only to determine the male as ambiguous genitalia in a developing male fetus. This shows a decrease in the progression of androgenic alopecia in men treated. Should be continued indefinitely, stopping determine disease progression. It does not show any benefit in treating women with androgenetic alopecia.
Prognosis
Some patients progress until complete alopecia of the scalp, others may regain their numerous hair follicles. Women with this disorder usually shows no thinning scalp and crown areas of baldness.