Ann Dermatol.  2013 May;25(2):181-188. 10.5021/ad.2013.25.2.181.

The Annual Changes of Clinical Manifestation of Androgenetic Alopecia Clinic in Korean Males and Females: A Outpatient-Based Study

• Jang WS
• Son IP
• Yeo IK
• Park KY
• Li K
• Kim BJ
• Seo SJ
• Kim MN
• Hong CK

• KMID: 2171786
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2013.25.2.181

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the local and gradual transformation of terminal scalp hair into vellus hair, which has a shorter and thinner shaft. There are no studies that analyze annual changes in age, patterns, family history, and associated disease.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the severity of hair loss, age of onset, the frequency of family history, and past medical histories in Korean patients with AGA.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients with AGA referred to the Dermatology Clinic at Chung-Ang University Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010.
RESULTS
The age of onset was also gradually decreased from 34.1+/-10.1 years to 31.6+/-10.9 years between 2006 and 2010. In female patients, specific annual changes were not observed. Hamilton-Norwood Type IIIv AGA was most common in male patients and Ludwig Type I AGA was most common in female patients at all times between 2006 and 2010. The majority of patients with AGA had a family history of baldness and was most commonly associated with a paternal pattern of inheritance. Seborrheic dermatitis was the most common associated disease in male and female patients.
CONCLUSION
Our results show the possibilities that the average age of onset is decreasing. The period of the present study was only 5 years, which is not sufficient for the precise determination of onset age for AGA. Clearly, a long-term study is needed.

Keyword

Androgenetic alopecia; Onset age

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Alopecia
Dermatitis, Seborrheic
Dermatology
Female
Hair
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies
Scalp
Wills

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes in distribution of (A) age at first visit and (B) onset age in male patients with androgenetic alopecia.

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  Fig. 2 Annual changes of clinical type in (A) male patients and (B) female patients with androgenetic alopecia.

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