What are the Differences Between Male and Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia)?

From its causes to its treatment options, androgenetic alopecia differs in men and women. Androgenetic hair loss is a hormonally triggered genetic hair loss. While this condition can affect anyone, there are marked differences between people born male or female regarding the age at which thinning begins, which parts of the scalp it affects, and other associated health conditions. Knowing these differences can help you understand what's going on with your own hair and learn what you and your specialist can do to treat it.

1. Hair Loss in Men May Start at an Earlier Age Compared to Women

Men's hair loss most often begins in their 30s. In women, hair loss tends to start after 10-15 years. In addition, women begin to see the effects of postmenopausal hair loss more. Although there are differences, the risk of hair loss increases with age in both men and women.

1. Hair Loss Affects Different Parts of the Scalp in Men and Women

Androgenetic alopecia does not affect every hair follicle on your scalp. For this reason, men experience thinning in the front and top of the head, while women experience thinning on the upper part of the scalp. Shedding starts from the hairline of men and continues from there. Shedding in women does not usually start from the hairline. While the front hairline is preserved, thinning occurs in the posterior central part of the head and complete baldness is often not observed.

1. Different Health Conditions Play a Role in Hair Loss in Men and Women

Genetics plays an important role in the development of hair loss. If you have a variation of the AR gene, your hair follicles are more sensitive to an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. Higher DHT levels lead to thinner and shorter hair follicles that may eventually stop hair growth.

Besides genetic influence, there are certain health conditions in men and women that can also affect hair loss as they are associated with higher androgen levels. It is observed more in women as a result of this “polycystic ovary syndrome”. It has been stated that women with polycystic ovary syndrome have a higher risk of experiencing androgenetic alopecia compared to other women.

In men, prostate cancer is potentially linked to male pattern baldness. It has been stated that hair loss on the top of the head, called the peak of men afflicted with prostate cancer, is associated with a 25 percent higher risk of prostate cancer compared to others.

Different studies have shown that cardiovascular disease and risk factors are associated with androgenetic alopecia in both men and women. Hormonal sensitivities, genetic and inflammatory markers may be common in people with both this type of hair loss and cardiovascular problems.