Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. It has traditionally been considered a cosmetic defect, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it may serve as a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases, suggesting its potential role in early disease det...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dawid Suwała, Natalia Pokrywka, Marcelina Polak, Klaudia Koryszko, Paulina Hetnar, Magdalena Tomala, Sebastian Kiper, Milena Fortuna, Sławomir Toczek, Katarzyna Jastrowicz-Chęć
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kazimierz Wielki University 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Education, Health and Sport
Subjects:
Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/61813
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849318261314813952
author Dawid Suwała
Natalia Pokrywka
Marcelina Polak
Klaudia Koryszko
Paulina Hetnar
Magdalena Tomala
Sebastian Kiper
Milena Fortuna
Sławomir Toczek
Katarzyna Jastrowicz-Chęć
author_facet Dawid Suwała
Natalia Pokrywka
Marcelina Polak
Klaudia Koryszko
Paulina Hetnar
Magdalena Tomala
Sebastian Kiper
Milena Fortuna
Sławomir Toczek
Katarzyna Jastrowicz-Chęć
author_sort Dawid Suwała
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. It has traditionally been considered a cosmetic defect, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it may serve as a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases, suggesting its potential role in early disease detection and prevention. Purpose: The aim of this study is to review the available literature, analyze and summarize the current state of knowledge on the relationship between AGA and systemic diseases. Materials and research methods: The article is based on an analysis of PubMed and Google Scholar research. A literature review was conducted using the following keywords and medical subject headings: androgenetic alopecia; quality of life; cardiovascular disease; hair loss; metabolic syndrome; comorbidity. The analysis included clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses. Results: The analysis showed that patients with AGA were more likely to have cardiovascular disease, metabolic or endocrine disorders. Cases of increased risk of prostate and scalp cancers have also been described, as well as negative effects on mental health in people with AGA. These links underscore the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient and collaboration between the dermatologist and other specialists. Conclusion: AGA is not only an aesthetic problem, but can act as a biomarker for systemic diseases and be a signal for further diagnosis. Therefore, screening should be considered, as well as collaboration between dermatologists and other specialists. Future research should focus on the mechanisms linking AGA to other conditions, developing screening protocols, and analyzing the age of onset of AGA as a potential risk for systemic diseases.
format Article
id doaj-art-6bbbd5e689364dd2aaede2aa5ab6997c
institution Kabale University
issn 2391-8306
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Kazimierz Wielki University
record_format Article
series Journal of Education, Health and Sport
spelling doaj-art-6bbbd5e689364dd2aaede2aa5ab6997c2025-08-20T03:50:54ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-07-018310.12775/JEHS.2025.83.61813Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature reviewDawid Suwała0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7606-7065Natalia Pokrywka1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1593-8760Marcelina Polak2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5987-4948Klaudia Koryszko3https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6294-8694Paulina Hetnar4https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2920-2575Magdalena Tomala5https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4236-4943Sebastian Kiper6https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4708-2121Milena Fortuna7https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5670-1926Sławomir Toczek8https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3936-7115Katarzyna Jastrowicz-Chęć9https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4820-0373Uniwersytet Medyczny w LublinieMedical University in LublinMedical University in Lublin1st Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic of Independent Public Health Care Unit in LublinMedical Centre in Piekary Slaskie, Limited Liability CompanyMilitary Institute of Aviation Medicine5th Military Clinical Hospital in Krakow 5th Military Clinical Hospital in Krakow 105th Borderland Military Hospital with a Clinic, Independent Public Health Care Facility in Zary5th Military Clinical Hospital in Krakow Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. It has traditionally been considered a cosmetic defect, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it may serve as a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases, suggesting its potential role in early disease detection and prevention. Purpose: The aim of this study is to review the available literature, analyze and summarize the current state of knowledge on the relationship between AGA and systemic diseases. Materials and research methods: The article is based on an analysis of PubMed and Google Scholar research. A literature review was conducted using the following keywords and medical subject headings: androgenetic alopecia; quality of life; cardiovascular disease; hair loss; metabolic syndrome; comorbidity. The analysis included clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses. Results: The analysis showed that patients with AGA were more likely to have cardiovascular disease, metabolic or endocrine disorders. Cases of increased risk of prostate and scalp cancers have also been described, as well as negative effects on mental health in people with AGA. These links underscore the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient and collaboration between the dermatologist and other specialists. Conclusion: AGA is not only an aesthetic problem, but can act as a biomarker for systemic diseases and be a signal for further diagnosis. Therefore, screening should be considered, as well as collaboration between dermatologists and other specialists. Future research should focus on the mechanisms linking AGA to other conditions, developing screening protocols, and analyzing the age of onset of AGA as a potential risk for systemic diseases. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/61813androgenetic alopeciaquality of lifecardiovascular diseasehair lossmetabolic syndromecomorbidity
spellingShingle Dawid Suwała
Natalia Pokrywka
Marcelina Polak
Klaudia Koryszko
Paulina Hetnar
Magdalena Tomala
Sebastian Kiper
Milena Fortuna
Sławomir Toczek
Katarzyna Jastrowicz-Chęć
Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
Journal of Education, Health and Sport
androgenetic alopecia
quality of life
cardiovascular disease
hair loss
metabolic syndrome
comorbidity
title Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
title_full Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
title_fullStr Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
title_full_unstemmed Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
title_short Androgenetic alopecia - just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases? - literature review
title_sort androgenetic alopecia just a cosmetic defect or a biomarker and risk factor for systemic diseases literature review
topic androgenetic alopecia
quality of life
cardiovascular disease
hair loss
metabolic syndrome
comorbidity
url https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/61813
work_keys_str_mv AT dawidsuwała androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT nataliapokrywka androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT marcelinapolak androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT klaudiakoryszko androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT paulinahetnar androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT magdalenatomala androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT sebastiankiper androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT milenafortuna androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT sławomirtoczek androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview
AT katarzynajastrowiczchec androgeneticalopeciajustacosmeticdefectorabiomarkerandriskfactorforsystemicdiseasesliteraturereview