Male pattern alopecia - Hair and Scalp
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Synopsis
Male pattern alopecia, or androgenetic alopecia, refers to the common patterned hair loss affecting many men and some women. Male pattern alopecia is mediated by dihydrotestosterone, the potent form of testosterone, which induces miniaturization of androgen-sensitive hair follicles. There is a gradual conversion of terminal hairs into indeterminate and finally vellus hairs. The condition may profoundly affect self-esteem and impair psychosocial functioning for some men, and an association between early onset male pattern alopecia and coronary artery disease has been shown. The hair loss has a strong genetic basis. Onset is usually prior to age 40.
A 2022 cross-sectional study of male balding patterns in people of color found variation between different races and ethnicities compared with White men: South Asian men had greater odds for vertex balding but lower odds for temporal balding; Chinese men were less likely to experience balding in any pattern; Black men also had lower odds for temporal, vertex, and severe balding (but to a lesser extent than Chinese men); and Black men were 4 times more likely to exhibit no or minimal balding.
A 2022 cross-sectional study of male balding patterns in people of color found variation between different races and ethnicities compared with White men: South Asian men had greater odds for vertex balding but lower odds for temporal balding; Chinese men were less likely to experience balding in any pattern; Black men also had lower odds for temporal, vertex, and severe balding (but to a lesser extent than Chinese men); and Black men were 4 times more likely to exhibit no or minimal balding.
Codes
ICD10CM:
L64.9 – Androgenic alopecia, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
87872006 – Male pattern alopecia
L64.9 – Androgenic alopecia, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
87872006 – Male pattern alopecia
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Last Reviewed:07/19/2017
Last Updated:11/10/2022
Last Updated:11/10/2022
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Male pattern alopecia - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview