Abstract

Background: Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), also known as female androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is the leading cause of hair loss in adult women, with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. It develops from progressive follicle shrinking, which leads to a decrease in hair density, resulting in non-scarring widespread alopecia with distinct clinical, dermoscopic, and histological patterns. The lack of knowledge about the etiology of the hair shrinkage process and the variables that regulate follicular development limits the promise of novel therapeutics.Topical minoxidil, used to treat female pattern hair loss since the 1990s, and remains the first choice. However, 40% of patients do not show improvement with this treatment, so it is crucial to seek alternative therapies. The writers of this article examine vitamin D's potential contribution to hair development .



Objectives: This review aims to give a brief overview of vitamin D biology within the hair follicle, role in the etiopathogenesis in hair loss and rationale for supplementation in FPHL.

Conclusion: A number of signaling pathways that control the proliferation and differentiation of hair follicles depend critically on vitamin D. The majority of research indicates a negative correlation between serum vitamin D levels and FPHL as well as other forms of alopecias. Therefore, more research is required before vitamin D is regularly suggested as a therapeutic option for these disorders.

Keywords: Female pattern hair loss, Vitamin D, Topical vit D analogue, Alopecia

Abbreviations: (FPHL) female pattern hair loss, (AGA) androgenetic alopecia, (VDR) vit D receptor.