P6.65 A STUDY OF SUBJECTIVE SCALP HAIR CHANGES AND THE CORRELATION TO BODY HAIR DISTRIBUTION IN THE POST MENOPAUSAL WOMAN

I. Ali, R. Dawber, F. Wojnarowska

Department of Dermatology, Oxford Churchill Hospital, UK

Objectives: To investigate the subjective scalp hair changes and their relationship to body hair distribution in the post menopausal woman.

Methods: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study of women aged 45+ was conducted to assess the subjective hair changes experienced. A detailed medical history and family history was also recorded. Women with a history of pre-existing hair disease and oophrectomy were excluded.

Scalp hair loss was recorded for three defined patterns, generalised diffuse thinning, frontal (Ludwig pattern) and temple hair loss. Body hair distribution was recorded using a tick box format to indicate loss, gain, coarser or finer hair. Each response of gain was assigned a score of +1 and that of loss -1. Statistical analysis of questionnaire variables was calculated using Mann- Whitney U test and Spearman rank correlation.

Results: 737 questionnaires were analysed. The mean age of subjects was 61+/- 10.5. 27.3% had generalised thinning of all the scalp hair, 8.7% described frontal hair loss and 6.1% described loss of hair at the temples.

Facial hair gain was most common of the chin (36.9%) and upper lip (27.9%).

Body hair results showed 31% describing a loss of axillary hair, 30.6 % loss of lower leg hair and 55% loss of pubic hair.

Statistically significant correlations were found between temple hair loss and increased chin hair, frontal loss and gain of upper lip hair and generalised thinning and loss of upper lip hair (p<0.001). Hair loss of all body areas correlated strongest with generalised thinning of the scalp (p=0.007). Frontal hair loss correlated only with pubic and axillary loss (p<0.05). Temple hair loss showed did not show significant correlation with pubic or axillary hair loss.

Conclusions: The study findings show that patterns of subjective scalp hair loss demonstrate a differing correlation with body hair distribution. Temple and frontal hair loss is considered an androgen mediated event and the role of androgens may explain the correlation between temple hair loss, gain of facial hair and relative preservation of body hair. In contrast, generalised thinning of hair is associated with loss of body and facial hair, suggesting a universal loss of hair preservation possibly mediated through non- androgen endocrine factors related to aging and the menopause.