Female Hair Loss
What is Female Pattern Hair Loss?
Female pattern hair loss is a condition that occurs in women who suffer from androgenic alopecia. Affecting up to 40% of women by age 50, it begins with patients noticing a thinning of their hair, along with obvious signs of shedding, such as more hair falling out in the shower, in their hairbrush, and/or on their pillow when they wake up in the morning.
Unlike men who suffer from male pattern hair loss, the signs and symptoms in women are more pronounced. Where men will notice thinning in certain areas of their scalp such as temples and crown, women with female-pattern hair loss will notice hair thinning all over their scalp with more loss occurring on the top of the head, causing a widening of the center hair part.
The one piece of good news about female pattern hair loss is that it rarely if ever leads to complete baldness as it can for men.
What Are the Causes of Female Hair Loss?
Age: Some amount of hair loss is natural as we age, whether we are male or female.
Hormones: Hormonal changes can lead to female pattern hair loss. For women, especially those who are going through or who have already experienced menopause, the likelihood of experiencing hair loss is much greater.
In particular, changes in androgen levels (male hormones such as DHT) are responsible for not only hair loss on a woman’s head, but increased and coarser hair on other parts of her body.
Genetics: If your mother, grandmother or other female close relatives suffered from female pattern hair loss, you are more likely to develop the condition yourself.”
Diagnosis of Hair Loss in Women
The diagnosis of “female pattern” hair loss is relatively straightforward when there is a history of gradual thinning in the front and/or top of the scalp, a relative preservation of the frontal hairline, a positive family history of hair loss and the presence of miniaturization in the thinning areas. Miniaturization, the progressive decrease of the hair shaft diameter and length in response to hormones, can be identified using a hand-held device called a densitometer.
Besides densitometry, two other common diagnostic tests that can be performed in the physician’s office are the hair-pull (a test for shedding) and the hair pluck (a test for hair damage). If common causes are ruled out, a more thorough diagnosis is called for, which may include blood work, a biopsy, or other laboratory testing.
Can Women Undergo Hair Restoration Surgery?
Absolutely. As long as there is an adequate donor region from which follicular grafts can be harvested, women benefit immensely from hair restoration surgery. Women experiencing androgenetic alopecia or hair loss caused by scars from accidents, burns or cosmetic procedures very often make great hair restoration candidates.
Way to Prevent Women’s Hair Loss
Yes, although there are many hair loss medications on the market that promise to prevent further loss and regrow hair, oral finasteride and topical minoxidil are the two-main proven hair loss prevention medications. Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should not take or even handle oral Finasteride, but may use topical custom prescriptions.
Book Your Appointment Now
Feel free to contact if you have any questions!