A Study of Clinical, Anthropometric and Hormonal association in Patients Of Female Pattern Hair Loss and healthy controls.

Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia, is a progressive, non-scarring alopecia that primarily affects women, leading to significant psychological distress and diminished quality of life. The prevalence of FPHL is increasing in India, yet comprehensive epidemiological and clinical studies remain limited. The pathophysiology of FPHL is multifactorial, involving genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances, and environmental factors Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) is a common non-scarring alopecia characterized by progressive thinning of hair over the central and frontal scalp regions, most commonly observed in women after puberty. Although often considered a cosmetic issue, emerging evidence suggests that FPHL may be associated with underlying hormonal and metabolic disturbances, including hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and features of metabolic syndrome. The present study, titled “Clinical, Anthropometric and Hormonal Study in Patients of Female Pattern Hair Loss,” is designed as a hospital-based, epidemiological, observational, analytic, case control study to investigate and compare the clinical profile, anthropometric measurements, and hormonal parameters in women with FPHL and age-matched healthy controls. The study population includes 76 female patients aged 12 to 46 years clinically diagnosed with FPHL based on the Ludwig classification, along with age-matched controls without clinical signs of hair loss. A comprehensive clinical assessment, trichoscopic examination, and anthropometric evaluation including body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, mid-arm circumference, and body composition analysis will be conducted. In addition, blood samples will be collected to measure hormonal parameters such as serum total and free testosterone, DHEAS, LH, FSH, and prolactin. The primary objective is to determine differences in hormonal and anthropometric profiles between cases and controls, with a view to identifying potential markers that may correlate with disease severity. The sample size was calculated using standard statistical formulas for comparing means, and was based on published reference values for DHEAS and BMI , resulting in an estimated requirement of 38 participants per group to ensure adequate power for both primary outcomes. Statistical analysis will involve appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests to assess the significance of observed differences. This study is expected to contribute to the understanding of FPHL as a multifactorial disorder with systemic implications and may offer insights into early diagnosis, risk stratification, and individualized management strategies.