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Can
women and men have pattern baldness due to adrenal hyperactivity
but not have the typical associated clinical symptoms of ovarian
or adrenal disorders
Yes. Research some years ago examined a group of young women who
had developed diffuse pattern alopecia limited to the center of
the scalp. The researchers found that the women had elevated levels
of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in their blood. DHEA-S
is converted to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by a naturally made
enzyme called steroid sulfatase (STS). DHEA can then be converted
to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through several more steps in the steroid
metabolism system.In this research study some women were shown to
be making too much DHEA-S and this was promoting a type of pattern
alopecia. However, the affected women had no other symptoms of adrenal
hyperplasia and were generally healthy.
DHEA-S is produced by the adrenal glands. We have two adrenal glands,
one each sits on top of our kidneys. They make a range of hormones
that help maintain our bodies. The adrenal glands can become overactive
(the clinical diagnosis is called "adrenal hyperplasia")
and produce too much of one or more hormones. For women a second
source of DHEA-S may be the ovaries.
Can
women and men have pattern baldness due to adrenal hyperactivity
but not have the typical associated clinical symptoms of ovarian
or adrenal disorders references
- Redmond
GP. Androgens and women's health. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 1998
Mar-Apr;43(2):91-7.
- Redmond
GP. Androgenic disorders of women: diagnostic and therapeutic
decision making. Am J Med. 1995 Jan 16;98(1A):120S-129S.
- Kasick JM, Bergfeld WF, Steck WD, Gupta
MK. Adrenal androgenic female-pattern alopecia: sex hormones and
the balding woman. Cleve Clin Q. 1983 Summer;50(2):111-22.
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