Androgenetic Alopecia §Mortality/Morbidity

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Mortality/Morbidity: This is essentially a cosmetic disorder. Other than affecting the patient psychologically, the disorder is significant only in that it allows ultraviolet light to reach the scalp and, thus, increases the amount of actinic damage. Males with androgenetic alopecia may have an increased incidence of myocardial infarction. An increase in benign prostatic hypertrophy has also been associated. If these associations are proven conclusively, this disorder will be of greater clinical significance.
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic21.htm

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THE EFFECTS OF HORMONES & AGING ON HAIR LOSS...

Some scientific research shows that over the past decade hair loss has been on the rise in both men and women. And some surprising, new evidence has developed a link between rising scalp estrogen levels associated with age and hair loss.

testosterone / estrogen levels in men and women (nioxin©)

Recently, with some ground breaking research, the application of this principle to human hair growth has proven to be exceptionally fascinating. Particularly interesting was the disturbing effects of pseudo-estrogens on hair and scalp, which are found in progressively higher concentrations as we age. Equally of interest is the steady increase in instances of thinning hair in women. This unfortunate condition is becoming progressively more common in women over the age of 35. In Asia, thinning hair has been noticed in women as young as 25. Although not scientifically provable, there is intuitive recognition that most adults in their fifties can not remember seeing classmates with thinning hair when they were in high school or even college. However, today it is common for a high school student to know several other students with thinning hair.


Several studies have drawn a distinct connection between aging and thinning hair which can be seen in the following graph:

percentage of men and women with thinning hair (nioxin©)

Hair loss can begin as early as 17. Why can we begin to loose hair at this age? Testosterone levels are at their very highest at this time of life. Current thought strongly implicates dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an aromatization by-product of testosterone, in hair loss. DHT fills receptor sites faster and more completely than testosterone (it has an amplified effect). However, what is not commonly appreciated is the fact that aromatization is indiscriminate. In other words, it's equally possible for testosterone to be aromatized into estrogen or I)HT To prove the point, it's a fact that many boys going through puberty experience tender breasts and see some breast enlargement. This condition goes away as testosterone levels decrease with age. However, pseudo-estrogens (environmental pollutants which are also known as estrogen mimics) constantly bombard the body and have a rising impact with age. They are probably why hair loss is now occurring at earlier ages and is more progressive.

The next age range at which hair loss tends to occur is between the ages of 35 and 45. Why? An interesting physiological phenomenon occurs in this age range. Aromatization of testosterone begins to more commonly take the pathway leading to estradiol (a female hormone). Studies of males demonstrate a linear rise in estradiol levels with each succeeding decade. In some cases this increase is so dramatic that men can have serum estradiol levels as high as reproductively active women. New theories indicate that this maybe a factor in prostate enlargement, which commonly occurs in men during this age range. This theory has only been documented in outside clinical studies with dogs, its application to humans is mostly postulated at this point.
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http://www.haircare365.com/trichology/t ... irloss.htm