Female Androgenetic Alopecia amongst Market Women in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Studies on androgenetic alopecia in Nigerian females are few. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of female androgenetic alopecia, its severity and trichoscopic features.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of androgenetic alopecia amongst 207 adult female traders at an urban market in Lagos, Nigeria. The study was conducted in February 2020. All recruited female traders were examined. Documentation of clinical findings, sociodemographic data and trichoscopy features was done using a predesigned questionnaire. Severity of female androgenetic alopecia was assessed using the Olsen's scale he IBM statistics software version 22.

Results: The prevalence of female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) was 4.8% (10/207) and median age of the participants was 59 (IQR 45,63) years. The severity of FAGA based on Olsen's scale was grade I, II and III in 30%, 20% and 50% respectively and severity increased with age. Trichoscopy features included prominent white dots (90%), reduced hair density (90%), vellus hairs (70%), preserved honeycomb pigment network (70%) and variable hair diameter (60%).

Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia is uncommon in females. When present, it is noted to be severe. Trichoscopy features among African females in Nigeria are comparable to trichoscopy features in studies from other parts of the world.