Gender-specific risk factors for androgenetic alopecia in the Korean general population: Associations with medical comorbidities and general health behaviors

Male-pattern hair loss: Comprehensive identification of the associated genes as a basis for understanding pathophysiology

Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is a highly heritable and prevalent condition that is characterized by progressive hair loss from the frontotemporal and vertex scalp. This androgen-dependent hair loss may commence during puberty, and up to 80 % of European men experience some degree of MPHL during their lifetime. Current treatment options for MPHL have limited efficacy, and improved understanding of the underlying biological causes is required to facilitate novel therapeutic approaches. To date, molecular genetic studies have identified 389 associated genomic regions, have implicated numerous genes in these regions, and suggested pathways that are likely to contribute to key pathophysiological mechanisms in MPHL. This review provides an overview of the current status of MPHL genetic research. We discuss the most significant achievements, current challenges, and anticipated developments in the field, as well as their potential to advance our understanding of hair (loss) biology, and to improve hair loss prediction and treatment.

Comorbidities in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Comprehensive Review

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.

Pediatric androgenetic alopecia: a retrospective review of clinical characteristics, hormonal assays and metabolic syndrome risk factors in 23 patients

BACKGROUND

Androgenetic alopecia in the pediatric population is rarely discussed in the literature. Although the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is increased in patients with early-onset androgenetic alopecia, the presence of metabolic syndrome risk factors in pediatric androgenetic alopecia is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the demographics, medical and family histories, clinical and trichoscopic features, androgenic hormones, and metabolic syndrome risk factors in pediatric androgenetic alopecia.

METHODS

The medical reports of pediatric patients with androgenetic alopecia were reviewed.

RESULTS

The study included 23 patients (12 females and 11 males) with a mean age of 15,3 ± 2,1 years. Sixteen patients had adolescent androgenetic alopecia and seven, had childhood alopecia. Nine patients reported a family history, all of whom had adolescent androgenetic alopecia. Hyperandrogenism was noted in three patients with adolescent androgenetic alopecia. The most common hair loss pattern was diffuse thinning at the crown with preservation of the frontal hairline which was noted in 10 patients (43.5%), six of whom were males. Fourteen patients (60.9%) had at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor. The most common risk factor was obesity or overweight (47.8%) followed by insulin resistance (21.7%), high fasting blood glucose (13%), high blood pressure (4.4%) and lipid abnormalities (4.4%).

STUDY LIMITATIONS

Retrospective study; lack of a control group.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric androgenetic alopecia is often associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors. Therefore, androgenetic alopecia in the pediatric population may indicate a future metabolic syndrome which warrants an accurate and prompt diagnosis for early screening and treatment.

Cutaneous Manifestations and Hormonal Changes Among Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients at a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent endocrine disorder affecting 5%-10% of women worldwide. PCOS patients usually present with cutaneous manifestations of hyperandrogenism, such as acne, hirsutism, and androgenic alopecia.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dermatological manifestations and their association with hormonal changes in PCOS patients. In addition, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbidities associated with PCOS and to demonstrate the referral pattern among Dermatology, Gynecology, and Primary Health Care (PHC).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All PCOS patients who attended KAMC from 2016 to 2021 were included. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review of the electronic medical record system (BestCare) and by utilizing a structured data collection sheet.

Results: A total of 447 female patients were diagnosed with PCOS with a median age of 29 years and a median BMI of 28.76 kg/m².The prevalence of cutaneous manifestations among patients was 68%. Hirsutism (47.3%), acne vulgaris (40.6%), and androgenic alopecia (20.3%) were the most common manifestations. The most common hormonal abnormalities were raised luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in 220 (49.1%) patients and raised LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio in 159 (35.5%) patients. FSH, LH/FSH ratio, and age were significant predictors for acne vulgaris (P-value=0.01, 0.04, and 0.01, respectively). Obesity (44.20%), infertility (25.70%), and dyslipidemia (17%) were the most common comorbidities in our sample. Most patients' first visits and follow-ups were in PHC. 

Conclusion: The prevalence of cutaneous manifestations among PCOS patients is relatively high and plays a significant role in making the diagnosis. Therefore, physicians across multiple specialties need to be more aware of the full spectrum of PCOS presentations to alleviate it from its under-diagnosed status.

Skin disease related to metabolic syndrome in women

Sex hormones are involved in pathways of metabolic syndrome (MetS), an observation supported by animal studies. The relationships of sex hormones with components of MetS, such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, have been studied in pre- and postmenopausal women. High testosterone, low sex hormone-binding globulin, and low estrogen levels increase the risks of MetS and type 2 diabetes in women. Cutaneous diseases that are sex hormone mediated, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans, acne vulgaris, and pattern alopecia, have been associated with insulin resistance and increased risk for MetS. Furthermore, inflammatory skin conditions, such as hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis, increase the risk for MetS. Patients with such skin conditions should be followed for metabolic complications, and early lifestyle interventions toward these populations may be warranted.