Androgenic alopecia: A counterproductive outcome of the anabolic effect of androgens

SummaryAndrogenic alopecia is the commonest type of baldness. It is known to be caused by androgens, but the pathogenesis is not clearly understood. A lot of other factors are also suggested to be responsible, but many questions remain unanswered. This paper proposes a comprehensive theory, which explains how the normal anabolic effects of androgens which are responsible for hair growth become counterproductive in the scalp of some people leading to baldness, though androgens do not have any particular antagonism towards the hair follicles. It describes how androgens mediated protein deposition in the scalp tissues results in structural changes which leads to miniaturisation of hair follicles and thereby turn the hair vellus. It also explains other aspects of androgenic alopecia. This theory for the first time, spell out the steps involved in the progression from recession of hairline to complete baldness.