Is hair loss caused by excess androgen?

This is not necessarily the case.

Hair loss is a complex phenomenon with many different types and causes, and it cannot be attributed solely to excess androgens in the body.

Taking the particularly common androgenic alopecia as an example, people may mistakenly believe that this type of hair loss is caused by excessive androgens, but this is not the case.

The relationship between androgenic alopecia and androgens is not mainly due to excessive androgens, but to the increased sensitivity of hair follicles in specific areas to androgens. In this type of alopecia, the hormone dihydrotestosterone can bind to receptors on the hair follicle cells in specific hair follicles, leading to hair follicle atrophy, causing hair to become thinner, shorter, or even stop growing.

Hair loss that is truly related to excessive androgen is more common in female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, and is often accompanied by other manifestations, such as obesity, hirsutism, infertility, menstrual disorders, etc.

In addition, hair loss can be caused by a variety of other reasons, such as:

Lifestyle habits: Bad habits such as tying your hair too tightly and frequently scratching your scalp may also damage hair follicles and cause hair loss;

Pregnancy: Giving birth can cause postpartum hair loss;

Stress: Both mental and physical stress can affect the hair growth cycle and lead to hair loss;

Illness: Illnesses such as anemia may lead to hair loss.

In short, hair loss is a complex phenomenon, which is generally not related to excessive androgen. To understand the specific causes of hair loss, you need to combine individual circumstances. It is recommended that friends who are troubled by hair loss consult a professional doctor in time for symptomatic treatment.

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, MD, attending physician of dermatology

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital