Androgenetic alopecia in woman

Cushing's syndrome is a rare endocrine disorder that comprises a large group of signs and symptoms resulting from chronic exposure to excess corticosteroids. Most cases of Cushing's syndrome are due to increased adrenocorticotropic hormone production from a pituitary adenoma, which is referred to as Cushing's disease. Most of the signs and symptoms are nonspecific and common in the general population, making a diagnosis often challenging. However, several dermatological manifestations, such as fragile skin, easy bruising, and reddish purple striae, are more discriminatory...

Dermatologists are in a key position to treat the manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The management of PCOS should be tailored to each woman's specific goals, reproductive interests, and particular constellation of symptoms. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. In part II of this continuing medical education article, we present the available safety and efficacy data regarding treatments for women with acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia. Therapies discussed include lifestyle modification, topical therapies, combined oral contraceptives, antiandrogen agents, and insulin-sensitizing drugs...

A 30-year-old woman presented with recurrent acne lesions and progressing male-pattern baldness. Furthermore, she reported amenorrhea, weight loss, mucosal xerosis and dyspareunia since discontinuation of hormonal contraception 6 months earlier in order to conceive. Acne tarda and androgenetic alopecia of female pattern were diagnosed. Hormonal and immunologic serological and ultrasound examinations revealed an autoimmune hypergonadotropic primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) with no ovarian cysts but ovarian fibrosis with marked reduced follicle pool...

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the standard treatment options for female pattern androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Efficacy of finasteride in women is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 5 mg/day oral finasteride in normoandrogenic postmenopausal woman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 normoandrogenic postmenopausal women with AGA was enrolled in this study. They were treated with oral finasteride 5 mg/day for 18 months...

Diagnosis of scarring alopecia is a particular diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Frontal fibrosing alopecia was first described by Kossard as a scarring alopecia characterized by progressive recession of the frontal-temporal hair margins leading to permanent alopecia. Primarily affected are postmenopausal women. A 56 year-old woman presented with fibrosing alopecia in a male-pattern distribution. Evaluation of medical history, clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological findings led us to the diagnosis of frontal fibrosing alopecia with additional androgenetic pattern...

Several studies have analyzed the relationship between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease). However few studies have analyzed lipid values in men and women separately. This case-control study included 300 patients consecutively admitted to an outpatient clinic, 150 with early onset androgenetic alopecia (80 males and 70 females) and 150 controls (80 males and 70 females) with other skin diseases. Female patients with androgenic alopecia showed significant higher triglycerides values (123...

Patterned hair loss in men and women, although medically benign, is a common, albeit unwelcome, event that may cause considerable anxiety and concern. Patterned hair loss is progressive and when untreated leads to baldness. The prevalence and severity of this physiologic process both increase with advancing age. Although androgens play a key role in the pathogenesis of male pattern hair loss (MPHL), the role of androgens in female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is less well established. Satisfactory treatment response to antiandrogen therapy supports the involvement of androgens in the pathogenesis of FPHL...

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine-gynecologic disturbance characterized mainly by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, affecting between 5 and 10% of reproductive-age women. The main manifestations of PCOS include the following symptoms: menstrual irregularity, excess body hair, infertility, acne, androgenetic alopecia, obesity and acantose nigricans. These symptoms appear quite heterogeneously, with marked differences in their prevalence and intensity among different groups of women with PCOS...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate biochemical and metabolic abnormalities in relation with cutaneous features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Prospective descriptive analysis. SETTING: University-based tertiary care. SAMPLE: One-hundred and fifteen untreated consecutive women diagnosed as having PCOS. METHODS: Each woman underwent an evaluation of body habitus, acne, hirsutism, seborrhea, androgenic alopecia and acanthosis nigricans...

BACKGROUND: Hair loss, or alopecia, in a man or woman can have major psychologic repercussions. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and etiologic aspects of alopecia in our service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed over two years. All patients of both sexes, who consulted a dermatologist for alopecia, were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and etiologic data were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of alopecia is 1...

BACKGROUND: In menopausal women, rapid development of androgenetic alopecia may be associated with development of androgen-secreting tumors even in the absence of signs of virilisation. We report a case in which ovarian tumor was revealed by this condition. OBSERVATION: A 75 year-old woman menopausal from the age of 44 years had experienced hair loss over the previous three years with exacerbation over the last year. Clinical examination revealed male pattern androgenogenetic alopecia but with no signs of virilisation...

A 53-year-old woman with clinical evidence of female pattern hair loss and histological evidence of androgenetic alopecia was initially treated with the oral antiandrogen spironolactone 200 mg daily. Serial scalp photography documented hair regrowth at 12 months; however, the hair regrowth plateaued, and at 24 months there had been no further improvement in hair density. Twice daily therapy with topical minoxidil 5% solution was then introduced and further regrowth documented, confirming the additive effect of combination therapy...

The primary adrenal localization of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a rare event. We report the case of a 70-yr-old woman, who was admitted at our Institute for a hormonal evaluation after the incidental discovery of a right adrenal mass during ultrasonography (US) performed for cardiovascular disease. At the physical examination, no sign of adrenal hyperfunction was present. She showed only an androgenetic alopecia and her blood pressure was 180/70 mm Hg, with an arrhythmic heart rate of 100 beats/min. No alterations in hormonal and biochemical data were observed...

Severe postmenopausal virilization is a rare event in clinical practice. To evaluate ovarian or adrenal hyperandrogenism endocrine tests and imaging are useful diagnostic tools. We report a case of a postmenopausal woman with hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia. A malignant cause for the present disorder could be excluded by imaging. Selective venous sampling was administered with increased testosterone level of the right adrenal vein. Right adrenalectomy and right oophorctomy was recommended.

BACKGROUND: Kenogen indicates the physiological interval of the hair cycle in which the hair follicle remains empty after the telogen hair has been extruded and before a new anagen hair emerges. Kenogen frequency and duration are greater in men and women with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of kenogen with female AGA. METHODS: A woman with AGA, studied 14 years before, was re-examined for 2 years by the phototrichogram technique...

BACKGROUND: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the preferred term for androgenetic alopecia in women. FPHL can be a source of considerable distress for affected women. Our hypothesis was that women with FPHL who seek treatment would rate their condition as more severe than would their treating doctors. OBJECTIVES: To identify discrepancies between the severity ratings of the women and their clinicians. METHODS: Participants were 30 women receiving treatment for biopsy-proven FPHL and 44 women on a waiting list to receive treatment for FPHL...

An 83-year-old woman presented with a 6-month history of hair loss and painless bruising involving her forehead and scalp. She was otherwise well. Skin biopsy of her scalp confirmed angiosarcoma with a significant increase in miniaturized and telogen hair follicles and some tumour-associated scarring hair loss. She was commenced on the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel and then subsequently the semi-synthetic taxane docetaxol. Treatment was terminated because of lack of response and adverse effects. Alopecia is an uncommon presentation in angiosarcoma and in this case there was a mixed pattern of focal scarring and follicular miniaturization...

A 65-year-old woman presented with an 8-year history of progressive frontotemporal alopecia and hirsutism. She had elevated serum levels of testosterone, androstenedione and estradiol. Ultrasound and computed tomography imaging suggested a right ovarian mass, while bilateral ovarian venous sampling demonstrated increased testosterone levels originating from both ovarian veins. Histology obtained following bilateral oophorectomy demonstrated bilateral ovarian hyperthecosis. Six months after surgery, the patient remains well with no progression of the alopecia...

We report a 24-year-old woman with androgenetic alopecia who became sensitized to topical minoxidil following use of an extemporaneous preparation of minoxidil 4% with retinoic acid in a propylene glycol base. She subsequently also became sensitized to saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), a topical herbal extract commonly promoted for the treatment of hair loss.

There is widespread use of spironolactone in medical practice and the indications for its use well established and side effect profile well known. Herein, we present a case of drug-induced hepatitis occurring in a 50-year-old woman using spironolactone for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Six weeks after commencement of spironolactone the patient became unwell, complained of an extensive itch, but no icterus or jaundice. Liver function tests found abnormally elevated bilirubin and enzymes levels. After withdrawal of spironolactone, the patient's symptoms resolved and liver function improved...