Androgenetic Alopecia in Gender Minority Patients

Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in adults and may be particularly distressing for gender minority patients, given the close relation between hair and gender expression. Furthermore, use of gender affirming hormones such as testosterone in transmen and estrogen/antiandrogens in transwomen has a direct effect on hair growth distribution and density. Clinicians should thus be knowledgeable about the effects of sex hormones on the hair growth cycle to comfortably diagnose and treat AGA in gender minority patients.

Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia; Estrogen; Gender affirming hormone; Gender minority; Minoxidil; Pattern hair loss; Testosterone; Transgender.