A Cross Sectional Study of Hair Line Recession, Severity and Trichoscopy Features of Androgenetic Alopecia in Nigeria.

Hair Line Recession, Severity and Trichoscopy Features of Androgenetic Alopecia in Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Androgenetic alopecia is the commonest type of non-scarring hair loss in males and it affects the quality of life in some individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of andrgenetic alopecia in males and females, its severity, degree of hair line recession and trichoscopic features.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in February 2020 amongst 307 adult traders at an urban market in Lagos, Nigeria. The participants were clinically examined. Sociodemographic, clinical data and trichoscopy features were documented using a pre-designed questionnaire. Severity was staged using the Olsen’s scale in females, the Hamilton–Norwood and Norwood scales in males. The IBM statistics software version 22 was used for data analysis.

Results:

The prevalence of androgenetic alopecia was 19.2% with more males affected than females (83.1% to 16.9%). The prevalence of AGA was 49% and FPHL 4.8%. The overall prevalence of androgenetic alopecia increased with age being 5.9% (3/51) in those aged < 30 years and 33.3% in those ≥ 60 years. The median age was delayed by over 10 years in females, (p=0.022). The severity of AGA and FPHL based on the Olsen and Hamilton-Norwood scales increased with age. Hair line recession was absent in the younger age groups. Trichoscopy features included reduced hair density, white dots with regular distribution, white dots, preserved honeycomb pigment network, variable diameter and thin hair.

Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia is commoner in males and its severity increases with age. There are typical trichoscopy features associated with androgenetic alopecia.