Beyond the Androgen Horizon of Male Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia

In this episode Associate Editor Dr. George Cotsarelis (University of Pennsylvania) and author Dr. Ralf Paus (University of Manchester) discuss the Review article by Altendorf on male pattern androgenetic alopecia. We uncover the physiology and function of hair in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation. In addition to producing pigmented protein fibers, the “mini organ” that makes our hair shaft not only senses the environment, it chemosenses the environment. According to Dr. Paus, hair can smell, taste, and see! What is the future of hair research? Listen now and find out more about this fascinating topic.

Sabrina Altendorf, Marta Bertolini, Alizée Le Riche, Antonella Tosti, and Ralf Paus Frontiers in the physiology of male pattern androgenetic alopecia: beyond the androgen horizon Physiological Reviews, published September 15, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00005.2024