Androgenetic alopecia in 10 questions

Is androgenetic alopecia serious? How can androgenetic alopecia be stopped for good? I'm afraid of going completely bald at the menopause. How can I avoid this?

Behind these questions about baldness are fears about hair loss that seems abnormal.

Clauderer Specialists have been helping women and men worried about losing their hair for decades, and these questions often come up during the first diagnostic appointment.

Here we take you back to basics with 10 questions on androgenetic alopecia, because understanding is already taking action.

Androgenetic alopecia: what is it?

Let's start with a simple definition¹ of androgenetic alopecia, whether male or female: it is the scalp's - and only the scalp's - receptiveness to the deleterious action of an enzyme generated by male hormones, or androgens. This enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, produces dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This highly potent hormone causes hair follicles to weaken. The hair cycle is disrupted and the proportion of hair in the telogen phase (end of life) increases. As a result, hair renewal accelerates and the hair no longer grows back as well, becoming progressively weaker and thinner. Eventually, the hair follicle is exhausted prematurely and the hair capital dries up too soon. Sparse areas appear on the scalp and, when the follicle no longer produces any hair, there are completely bald patches: this is baldness. If nothing is done, the process is irreversible.

Deepening gulfs and marked baldness, characteristic of androgenetic male alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia in 10 key questions

“Is androgenetic alopecia a disease?” no, androgenetic alopecia is not a disease. It's a dysfunction, a misfortune if you like. Just as you inherit the colour of your eyes and the colour of your hair, you inherit a propensity for baldness ... or not. It's a question of genetic predisposition.

“If it's hereditary, why am I the only bald person in the family?” It's a logical remark, but the reality is more complex. Since men naturally produce more male hormones, they are proportionally more likely than women to have a scalp that is receptive to DHT. But not all men are bald, and varying degrees of baldness can occur within a family. In addition, stress, medication, lifestyle, environment, etc. are all additional external factors that can aggravate baldness.

Baldness can affect siblings differently

“What about female androgenic alopecia?” Female alopecia also obeys this hereditary logic, of course, but female hormones protect hair follicles from the effects of DHT. This is why :

in women, areas of baldness are smaller and located differently. Hair loss is often diffuse and gradual.
a woman is never completely bald - except in the case of autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata or heavy medical treatment - but excessive thinning can lead to a loss of density, thinning temples and a widening median line
Hormonal changes in a woman's life (pregnancy, menopause) can trigger androgenetic alopecia in women.

“I have baldness because I have too much testosterone”: no, androgenetic alopecia in men or women has nothing to do with the quantity of male hormones. Testosterone is one of these male hormones, secreted mainly by the testicles in men and by the ovaries in women (in small quantities) but also by the adrenal glands in both sexes. It is the production of DHT - the enzyme actually secreted by testosterone - that depends on a genetic “lottery”. This is why a woman can be born with a genetic predisposition to baldness, which is also the case for 80 % of female hair loss.².

“Androgenetic alopecia is a hormonal disease”: no, not at all. It's not a disease and it's not a hormonal disease either, even though hormones play a major role in triggering hair loss. To put it simply, in men it's mainly through testosterone that androgens, and therefore DHT, are produced. In women, androgens are produced in small quantities by the ovaries and adrenal glands.

Androgenetic alopecia is not a hormonal disease, but ... hormones play a major role! Just think of the hormonal peaks that a woman can experience during pregnancy, childbirth and then the menopause, ...all these episodes have a significant impact on the proper functioning of hair follicles and therefore on hair growth.

The menopause, a frequent trigger of androgenetic alopecia in women

“How to stop androgenic hair loss”: alas, there's no miracle solution! It's impossible to stop androgenetic hair loss outright. Because you can't change characteristics as intrinsic as your genetic identity. So much for the bad news. But the good news is that you can still do something to slow the effects. You can start by having your hair assessed by a hair specialist, then identify any imbalances, and finally work on the external factors that accelerate hair loss (ultra-processed food, chronic stress, deficiencies, unsuitable contraception). Next, we adopt a simple, effective hair care routine using natural products to stimulate hair follicle activity and promote healthier hair growth.

“I take food supplements but my hair keeps falling out”. If it's a temporary loss of form linked to seasonal hair loss or temporary tiredness, then taking food supplements specially designed to answer hair issues can provide valuable support. We select vitamins from the B group, sulphur amino acids essential to hair vitality such as methionine and cysteine, iron and zinc, all in sufficient dosage to be truly effective. If hair loss persists for more than 8-10 weeks, topical treatments targeted at reactivating the hair follicle should be considered. At the same time, a blood test can identify iron or vitamin D deficiencies or a thyroid imbalance.

“Transplants stop alopecia”: a hair transplant definitively fills in the areas affected by baldness, such as the vertex or the forehead, but the androgenetic process continues inexorably in the ungrafted areas. In men, it is estimated that baldness reaches its peak at around 35-40 years of age, which is the age at which a hair transplant can reasonably be considered. It's best to remain vigilant and continue to maintain the initial donor area if a new transplant becomes necessary. Don't start too young, or you risk exhausting the donor area prematurely and finding yourself too bald for new hair implants. In the case of incipient baldness at the age of 20 or 25, it is better to start a local targeted preventive treatment than a massive hair restoration programme.

“I started 1 Clauderer treatment 2 weeks ago and my hair is still falling out!” Sadly, this is normal even if it is frustrating. Slowing down hair loss takes time, whatever the cause. It takes around 4 months for a hair to reach the scalp. The longer the hair loss, the more tired the hair follicles and the more difficult it will be to regrow. Cell renewal is no longer as active at 60 as it was at 35, so it's best to look after your hair as soon as possible. Aggravating factors such as stress or chronic anaemia can also slow down the hair regrowth process. In short, patience and diligence are the key to a successful anti-hair loss programme.

Today, there is no miracle cure for hereditary baldness. However, effective solutions do exist to slow down the effects, whether you're a woman or a man. The earlier you act, the better the results. By understanding what happens in the case of androgenetic alopecia, you can make informed decisions and choose the right treatment strategy. Taking control of your baldness means taking care of yourself and feeling good about your hair. To find out more, come and meet our Specialists!

To slow the effects of baldness, it's urgent not to wait