Androgen Definition: The class of male sex hormones involved with the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics within reproductive tissues as well as contributing to the anabolic status of body tissues. Androgens also play an important role in regulating female reproductive function. Testosterone is the most common androgen.
Androgenetic Alopecia Definition: This is the medical term for male or female pattern hair loss. It is a genetically predetermined condition in which suseptible individuals’ hair responds adversely to the presence of androgens. Hair is lost in characteristic patterns, most commonly affecting the frontotemporal and vertex and crown regions in men and in a more diffuse pattern in women. Androgenetic Alopecia has known associations with other health conditions including coronary
Antiandrogen Definition: An agent that blocks the action of androgens by preventing their attachment to receptor cells, interfering with their metabolism, or decreasing their production in the body.
Aromatase Definition: An enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of estrogens that acts by catalyzing the conversion of testosterone (an androgen) to estradiol (an estrogen). Aromatase is located in estrogen-producing cells in the adrenal glands, ovaries, placenta, testicles, adipose (fat) tissue, and brain.
Autograft Definition: A tissue, organ or cell that is harvested from one part of an individual’s body and relocated to another part of that same body. A surgical hair transplantation is an example of an autograft.
Biopsy [ Scalp ] A scalp biopsy is a procedure wherein a dermatologist uses an instrument termed a punch to core out a small cylindrical section of the scalp in an area which appears suspicious or abnormal so as to be able to examinie it under a microscope for the purpose of developing a more thorough understanding of the pathology responsible for the abnormality in question.
