Androgenetic alopecia: the medical name for pattern hair loss
Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Androgenetic alopecia is pattern hair loss: progressive miniaturisation of scalp follicles driven by inherited sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), producing finer, shorter hairs before a follicle stops producing at all. It is staged on the Norwood scale in men and the Ludwig scale in women, after trichoscopy. A miniaturised follicle can still respond; one that has gone cannot, so staging comes before treatment. Prescription medicines such as finasteride and minoxidil form the foundation, with laser and regenerative options layered around them.
Key facts
ICD-10
L64
Mechanism
Inherited follicle sensitivity to DHT; progressive miniaturisation over hair cycles
Staging
Norwood scale (men), Ludwig scale (women), with trichoscopy; blood tests where indicated
Foundation
Prescription medicines such as finasteride and minoxidil, started after assessment; adjuncts are layered around them
Where it fits
Hair loss treatment starts by identifying the kind of hair loss, because pattern thinning, diffuse shedding and patchy autoimmune loss are treated differently. For androgenetic alopecia, Dr Sin Yong's programme treats in layers: medical therapy to slow the loss, then regenerative options for the follicles that remain, including Regenera Activa autologous micrografts and the 1540 nm fractional laser stimulation protocol he published in PRIME Journal, sequenced by stage. Once a zone is genuinely bald and shiny, follicles are gone and transplant referral is the honest conversation. Full page: hair loss treatment; the regenerative arm on hair regrowth treatment; women specifically on female hair loss treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It affects women too, in a different distribution: diffuse thinning over the crown with a preserved hairline, staged on the Ludwig scale rather than the Norwood scale. Other causes of female hair loss are excluded with blood tests where indicated.
No. Regenerative treatment acts on follicles that have miniaturised but are still alive. A zone that is bald and shiny has lost its follicles, and hair transplantation becomes the relevant discussion; Dr Sin Yong refers on for that.
