Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Panonica Adriat. 2005 Mar

Bienova M, Kucerova R, Fiuraskova M, Hajduch M, Kolar Z.

Department of Dermatovenereology, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University and University Hospital, I. P. Pavlova 6, 775 20, Olomouc, Czech Republic. martina.bienova@fnol.cz.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common dermatological condition affecting both men and women.

In the case of men, up to 30% over the age of 30 and more than 50% over the age of 50 are affected.

AGA also affects women although clinical signs are usually milder and associated with diffuse thinning of the scalp hair.

AGA invariably causes serious psychological problems especially in women.

By far the most promising approaches to the treatment of baldness in men are drug therapies, such as topical minoxidil and finasteride administered systemically.

Mild to moderate AGA in women can be treated with antiandrogens and/or topical minoxidil with good results in many cases.