What is the medical name for male pattern baldness and what are the treatment options?

From the Guidelines

The medical name for male pattern baldness is androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also referred to as Male Patterned Hair Loss (MPHL). This condition affects 58% of men by age 50 and can have detrimental psychological effects and impact an individual's quality of life 1.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia include:

• Topical minoxidil (available over-the-counter as Rogaine in 2% or 5% solutions, applied twice daily to the scalp)
• Oral finasteride (Propecia, typically prescribed at 1mg daily)
• Newer treatments like dutasteride (0.5mg daily) which blocks both types of the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
• Low-level laser therapy devices for home use
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections performed by dermatologists, with a recommended dose of 5–7 mL PRP, using 0.05 to 0.1 mL/cm2, and a minimum of 3–5 sessions with a 1-month interval between sessions 1
• Hair transplantation surgery for more permanent results

Best Approach

For best outcomes, treatment should begin early, as these interventions are better at maintaining existing hair than regrowing lost hair. A combination approach using multiple treatments often yields the best results. It is also advisable to apply a complex combined therapy protocol as early as possible 1.

Safety and Efficacy

PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) appears to be a safe and effective treatment of AGA, and as an adjuvant to hair transplant surgery, with some theoretical advantages over PRP 1. However, further research is needed to optimize the use of APCs (autologous platelet concentrates) for treating AGA, including standardized study designs and larger samples.

From the FDA Drug Label

Minoxidil topical solution 5% is for men with hair loss or thinning hair that begins on the vertex of the scalp. The common inherited thinning or hair loss process begins slowly and may become noticeable only after years of gradual loss The medical name for male pattern baldness is Androgenetic Alopecia.

• The treatment options include:
  • Minoxidil topical solution 5%: for use only by men to help regrow hair on the scalp (vertex only)
  • Finasteride (PO): a 5α-reductase inhibitor, used to treat male pattern hair loss 2 It is essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine the best course of treatment for individual cases of male pattern baldness 3

From the Research

Medical Name for Male Pattern Baldness

• The medical name for male pattern baldness is Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) or Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) 4, 5, 6, 7.

Treatment Options

• Pharmacologic treatments include:
  • 5 alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride 4, 5, 6
  • Minoxidil 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Prostaglandins 4
• Non-pharmacologic approaches include:
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy 4, 6
  • Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) 6
  • Hair transplantation 5, 8, 7
• Combination of medical treatment and hair transplant surgery has shown superior efficacy 5

Effectiveness of Treatment

• Current available medical treatments like finasteride and minoxidil are effective in arresting the progression of the disease, but allow only partial regrowth of hair at best 4, 5, 6
• Early treatment achieves a more optimal outcome 4, 5, 7