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Female Pattern Baldness: A Major Cause of Hair Loss in Women
by Jane Meggitt
You’ve probably heard of male pattern baldness. You probably know men affected by it, perhaps those in your own family. What you might not know is that female pattern baldness is nearly as common as male pattern baldness, affecting up to half of all women over age 65. However, females in their 30s and 40s are often affected. Women may inherit the genetic predisposition for female pattern baldness from either parent.
Hair Loss Patterns
For many women afflicted with female pattern baldness, the hair loss is not as obvious as it is in their male counterparts. Hair tends to thin significantly rather than fall out completely. While women may lose hair on their crown, the pattern more often extends to the front and top of the scalp. Still, complete baldness is possible.
Hormonal Triggers
Hormonal changes trigger female pattern baldness. Many new mothers experience temporary hair thinning after going through hormonal changes after pregnancy. Permanent hair loss changes usually occur after menopause, or the earlier period starting in the late 30s or 40s known as perimenopause. It’s actually a form of testosterone – dihydrotestosterone – that causes hair loss in menopausal women. After menopause, the amount of estrogen in a woman’s body drops dramatically, while there is still ample dihydrotestosterone. That hormone changes hair follicles, making them shorter and lighter. Eventually, follicles stop producing hair at all.
Dealing with Female Pattern Baldness
There is no cure for female pattern baldness, but there are plenty of options for women who want to disguise the condition. Ask your hairdresser to recommend styles that hide balding areas. A good wig gives a woman confidence – and may even look better than her actual hair. Hats, headscarves and even turbans are fun items to wear without revealing baldness, and wig shops sell such products with natural-looking fringes of hair attached.
Women who want to try and stop hair loss can try over-the-counter Minoxidil, which may hinder hair loss and promote new hair growth. It’s important to start Minoxidil when you first notice hair loss, rather than waiting until the hair is virtually gone. If you have the time and money, you could go the hair transplant route. Hairs are “harvested” from the back of your head and transplanted into the bald regions of your scalp. This grafting has a good success rate, although the hairs from another part of your head don’t grow the way your original hair did.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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