The relationship between microbiome and female androgenetic alopecia

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/er53Xd5h_Rs Introduction: Hair is an important part of a woman's identity, with hair loss affecting up to 50% of women throughout their lives. Female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) is one of the causes of nonscarring alopecia, and its prevalence varies across populations. The pathogenesis of FAGA involves genes, hormones, and microinflammation in hair follicles, with scalp microbiome as a key factor. Research on the role of the microbiome (aerobic and anaerobic bacteria) in FAGA is still limited. Methods: This observational study with a cross-sectional design involving 30 FAGA subjects and 30 nonFAGA subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each patient underwent anamnesis, dermatological examination, and scalp swab collection. The data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and were considered significant with a p-value of <0.05. Results: In the FAGA group, the most prevalent age group was 36-45 years (43.3%). The most common severity of FAGA observed is Ludwig I (66.7%). The most prevalent microbiome (aerobic bacteria) is Staphylococcus, both in the FAGA group (60%) and the non-FAGA group (30%). The most prevalent microbiome (anaerobic bacteria) is Cutibacterium, both in the FAGA group (53.3%) and the nonFAGA group (80%). The results of this study indicate a correlation between the microbiome (aerobic and anaerobic bacteria) and FAGA (p=0.028 and 0.024). Conclusions: There is a relationship between microbiome (aerobic and anaerobic bacteria) and FAGA.