The key difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata is that androgenic alopecia is the loss of hair due to increased sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone while alopecia areata is the loss of hair due to an autoimmune disease that affects hair follicles.
Androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata are two common disorders that affect the scalp hair follicles and induce hair loss. These diseases directly affect an individual’s self-esteem and self-image. The volume of hair loss depends on the severity of the disease. Controlling hair loss and inducing hair growth are the current treatment options available for both androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Androgenic Alopecia
3. What is Alopecia Areata
4. Similarities – Androgenic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata
5. Androgenic Alopecia vs Alopecia Areata in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Androgenic Alopecia vs Alopecia Areata
What is Androgenic Alopecia?
Androgenic alopecia is a disease condition that causes loss of hair due to the heightened sensitivity of scalp hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone. This type of hair loss occurs in a well-defined pattern. The loss of hair begins at the upper region of the temples and extends throughout with time, forming a characteristic M shape.
Figure 01: Androgenic Alopecia in a Male
In women, the pattern of hair loss is different from that of men. Here, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede. Androgenic alopecia in men leads to total baldness over time, but in women, it does not. Coronary heart diseases, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance disorders are the other factors that cause androgenic alopecia. Spironolactone and low-level laser therapy are the types of available treatment options.
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that results in hair loss (as clumps) in the size and shape of a quarter. This condition is common in both men and women. Alopecia areata is the most common variety of this condition, but there are different varieties such as alopecia areata totalis, alopecia areata universalis, diffuse alopecia universalis, and ophiasis alopecia areata. Hair loss is the most common significant symptom. Depending on the severity of the disease, the amount of hair loss varies. It could be from small spots of hair loss to a large volume of hair loss.
Figure 02: Alopecia Areata
Symptoms include the occurrence of small bald patches on the scalp, increment in the size of the patch into large bald spots, hair loss over a very short time, and toenails and fingernails becoming red and pitted. The cause for alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the own body and, in this case, the hair follicles. Asthma, family traits, Downs syndrome, thyroid disease, and seasonal allergies also play a role in developing alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is incurable. However, it is possible to treat with different therapeutics to induce hair growth. These include corticosteroids, topical immunotherapy, and minoxidil.
What are the Similarities Between Androgenic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata?
- They are two diseases that cause loss of hair.
- Both conditions occur due to scalp hair follicle abnormalities.
- These conditions are common to men and women.
- They affect an individual’s self-esteem and self-image.
- Both androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata are incurable.
- Drug therapeutics can control both types to induce hair growth.
- Minoxidil is a common drug used to treat both conditions.
What is the Difference Between Androgenic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata?
The key difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata is that androgenic alopecia occurs due to increased sensitivity of scalp hair follicles to dihydro-testosterone while alopecia areata occurs due to an autoimmune disease that affects the scalp hair follicles.
The below infographic presents the differences between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Androgenic Alopecia vs Alopecia Areata
The key difference between androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata is the cause. Androgenic alopecia occurs due to the increased sensitivity of scalp hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone. In contrast, alopecia areata occurs due to an autoimmune disease that affects the scalp hair follicles. Androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata are two common disorders that affect the scalp hair follicles and induce hair loss. These diseases directly affect an individual’s self-esteem and self-image. The volume of hair loss depends on the severity of the disease. Controlling hair loss and inducing hair growth are the current treatment options available for both androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
Reference:
1. “Androgenetic Alopecia: Medlineplus Genetics.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Alopecia Areata & Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments, and Tips to Cope.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Male pattern baldness” By Originally uploaded by Lkinkade (Transferred by XenonX3) – Originally uploaded on en.wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia