Comorbidities in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Comprehensive Review

• Published in: Dermatology and therapy 2022-10, Vol.12 (10), p.2233-2247
• Main Authors: Chen, Shuang, Xie, Xiaohang, Zhang, Guoqiong, Zhang, Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alopecia; Baldness; Care and treatment; Comorbidity; Complications and side effects; Dermatology; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Plastic Surgery; Quality of Life Research; Review; Risk factors
• ISSN: 2193-8210; 2190-9172
• DOI: 10.1007/s13555-022-00799-7

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss, affecting 85% of men and 40% of women. Androgenetic alopecia is a disease caused by multiple factors, such as genetics, hormones, and systemic diseases; however, the exact cause remains undetermined. Recent studies have found that it is associated with a high incidence of endocrine diseases and other comorbidities. It may not only be a skin disease but also an early signal of underlying systemic diseases. Effective management requires timely diagnosis and treatment initiation. However, in current clinical practice, androgenetic alopecia is still not fully understood or treated. Recognizing the true physical, social, and emotional burden of androgenic alopecia, as well as its associated comorbidities, is the first step in improving the prognosis of affected patients. This review aimed to gather the known pathological factors and provide a reference for clinical physicians to understand androgenetic alopecia and its comorbidities in depth, thereby enabling early recognition of the underlying systemic diseases and providing timely treatment.