What is Female Pattern Hair Loss, Cause and Treatment

When is the first time you notice that the pony tails begin smaller? If you are thinking that you may have hair loss problem, keep noticing that your hair is thinner mainly on the top and crown of the scalp or not. If yes, you may have female pattern hair loss.

While pattern hair loss affects both men and women, hair thinning in women is different from that of male pattern baldness. Female-pattern hair loss is not characterized by a receding hairline or bald spot on top of the scalp as is common in men. In women, the frontal hairline remains, but there is visible thinning over the crown.  The hair loss rarely progresses to total or near total baldness, as it may in men.  

However one thing is common for both men and women is hairs are miniaturized due to a shortened growth cycle where the hair stays on the head for a shorter period of time. These wispy hairs, which resemble forearm hairs, do not achieve their usual length.

Female-pattern hair loss is the most common form of hair loss in women, who usually have a strong genetic component inherited from either the mother or father. There are, anyway, more reasons for women hair loss.

Hormonal abnormalities: Too much testosterone, or too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause female-pattern hair loss.  Besides, male hormones known as androgens, may be responsible for hair loss in women. One clue that hormones are involved is if the hair loss pattern resembles that of a man's hair loss. Female-pattern hair loss caused by a hormonal imbalance can be treated with prescription medications such as spironolactone or oral contraceptives.  

• Certain skin diseases that lead to scarring of the hair follicles
• Medications such as chemotherapy and beta blockers
• Syphilis
• Alopecia areata (Patchy hair loss that can start as early as the late teens)
• Telogen effluvium ( it is temporary shedding of hair after a major illness, surgery, or pregnancy)
• Vitamin deficiency (such as biotin)
• Iron deficiency

In addition, twisting or pulling of hair, or hair shaft abnormalities that are present from birth can cause breaking of hair and hair loss in women.  This does not imply that you should change your hair style. Sometimes women experiencing hair loss think they should stop washing, coloring or perming their hair.  But actually, these things won't impact the course of hair loss or speed up the process. There is no structural problem with the hair with female-pattern hair loss.

Currently, the only drug or medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil. But take a note that minoxidil does not grow new hair. It works by prolonging the growth phase of hair - providing more time for hair to grow out to its full density. The 2% concentration is recommended to use on scalp, while 5% is for male-pattern hair loss. Both the 2% and 5% solutions are available over-the-counter in a liquid, and the 5% is also available in a foam. 

However, we would like to encourage women to consult a dermatologist before starting the treatment because it can sometimes increase facial hair growth in women. Also be patient, the noticeable results usually take three to four months.  In case you do want to find out other alternative treatment for hair loss, herbal remedies an in teresrting option that sometimes can be used in integrative medicines for hair loss.