Androgenetic alopecia negatively impacts life, motivates men to seek hair loss treatment

WAILEA, Hawaii — Androgenetic alopecia has a negative impact on patients’ lives and many would be interested in a new therapeutic option, according to a survey presented at Maui Derm for Dermatologists.

“It should not come as a surprise to what extent hair loss impacts patients’ lives,” Ken Washenik, MD, PhD, of the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and president and chief medical officer of Bosley Medical Group, told Healio. “The majority of people are not happy and report significantly negative impacts on their lives.”

This survey included responses from 303 men with androgenetic alopecia and asked them to respond to questions regarding their hair loss, its impacts on their life, their past attempts to treat it and if they would be interested in further treatment options.

Of those surveyed, 64% (n = 195) reported hair loss caused a negative impact on life. More recent hair loss onset correlated with greater negative impact, with 67% having had hair loss onset within 3 years and 48% reporting onset more than 10 years ago.

More than half of subjects (56%; n = 171) reported never having sought treatment for hair loss, while 24% (n = 73) reported seeing and continuing treatment and 19% (n = 59) reported seeking and discontinuing treatment.

“When all is said and done you have about a quarter of the people of this group who are seeking treatment for their hair loss and continuing it. So that’s three-fourths who are not addressing it,” Washenik said.

These subjects were then asked if they would be interested in a new therapeutic approach that would stimulate new hair growth and include a number of in-office visits, as well as an at-home regimen.

Following further product details and before and after photographs of clinical trial participants who had undergone the system, the likelihood of requesting new treatment was “extremely likely” for 31% of respondents, “likely” for 44%, “neutral” for 15%, “unlikely” for 6% and “extremely unlikely” for 6%.

“It’s really impressive that three-fourths would be likely or extremely likely to have a desire to participate in this type of treatment,” Washenik said.