Avoid the incorrect word androgenetic alopecia. gradual decrease of scalp hair density in adults with transformation of terminal to vellus hairs, which become lost as a result of familial increased susceptibility of hair follicles to androgen secretion following puberty. Two areas of the scalp are commonly affected in men, the frontal and coronal; when it occurs in women it is associated with other evidence of excessive androgen activity, such as hirsutism. Autosomal dominant inheritance.female pattern alopecia, male pattern alopecia SYN: common baldness.