Androgenetic alopecia is postulated to be a dominantly inherited disorder with variable penetrance and expression. Additionally, prostate cancer, disorders of insulin resistance, and high blood pressure have been related to androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic alopecia is an extremely common disorder affecting both men and women. This is essentially a cosmetic disorder. A variety of genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in causing androgenetic alopecia. Other than affecting the patient psychologically, the disorder is significant only in that it allows ultraviolet light to reach the scalp and, thus, increases the amount of actinic damage. Androgenetic alopecia is a genetically determined condition. Androgen is necessary for progression of the disorder, as it is not found in males castrated prior to puberty. The progression of the disorder is stopped if postpubertal males are castrated.