127 Incidence of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males 15 to 17 Years of Age

R.J. Trancik1, J.R. Spindler1, S. Rose1, R.V. Cuddihy1, S.J. Hellebusch2. Pharmacia Consumer Healthcare, Peapack, NJ, USA1 and Q2 Marketing Research, Inc., Cincinnati, OH2.

The incidence of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) among males 15 to 17 years of age has not been well established. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of AGA among a large sample of 15- to 17-year-old males. Males who were 15 to 17 years of age (inclusive) were independently screened, recruited, and then interviewed by 10 board certified dermatologists at their respective research facility. Each participant filled out a self-administered questionnaire and underwent a scalp examination by the dermatologist. A modified version of the Hamilton-Norwood Scale was used to evaluate each subject. Five hundred and seventy-six adolescents agreed to participate; 496 (86%) actually responded and were enrolled. Dermatologists found that among those subjects who participated in the survey, 16% exhibited signs of AGA. Additionally, dermatologists judged that 14% of the respondents exhibited early signs of AGA. About one third of the respondents have a history of thinning hair or baldness on their mother’s side of the family while over one half have a history of thinning hair or baldness on their father’s side of the family. Very few respondents examined had evidence of other underlying scalp conditions or disorders. This study provides a reasonable estimate of the incidence of AGA in males 15 to 17 years of age. The true incidence of AGA among males in this age range is estimated to be within the range of the two rates determined in this study: 16% (modified Hamilton-Norwood Scale) to 14% (dermatologist-reported early signs of AGA).