The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Female hair loss is particularly distressing because baldness in women is often considered socially "unacceptable." Further, alopecia in women can sometimes go unrecognized and undiagnosed by doctors. Although doctors have found no cure for hair loss, there are techniques and treatments that may disguise and even slow hair loss.
Permanent Hair Loss
While male-pattern baldness typically causes a man to lose most or all of his hair, female-pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, usually causes thinning hair only at the front, sides and crown of a woman's head. This is the most common cause of hair loss in women, according to HerAlopecia.com. Although this form of alopecia rarely results in complete baldness in women, it is usually permanent. Cicatricial, or scarring, hair loss is a rare condition that occurs when inflammation damages and permanently scars the hair follicles, preventing healthy hair growth.
Temporary Hair Loss
Alopecia areata causes patchy hair loss and affects both men and women. It may appear as only one or two bald spots on the head. This kind of hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, including the eyebrows and lashes. If the entire scalp is affected, a woman is said to have alopecia totalis. If instead it is her entire body that is affected, this is called alopecia universalis. Hair loss may be rapid or slow, and although the hair usually grows back, she may lose and regrow the hair repeatedly. Alopecia areata can occur at any age, although it often begins in childhood. Short-term hair loss can also occur as the result of significant stress or illness, or treatment with anti-cancer drugs. Traction alopecia can occur when the hair is pulled too tight, such as to produce certain hair styles like cornrows or braids.
Causes
Female-pattern baldness, like male-pattern baldness, is most likely genetic, with heredity determining the degree of hair loss and the age of onset. The cause of cicatricial alopecia, which sometimes occurs with skin conditions such as lupus erythematosus or lichen planus, is unknown, according to MayoClinic.com. Although the cause of alopecia areata is unknown, it is believed to arise as a result of an autoimmune disorder. Women who have other autoimmune problems or a family history of alopecia areata may be predisposed to this form of hair loss.
Treatment
Sufferers of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata may be able to experience renewed hair growth and reduce any further hair loss through the use of the non-prescription medication Minoxidil or Rogaine. Although the drug finasteride, or Propecia, may help men who are balding, this medication is not approved for women and is particularly dangerous for women of child-bearing age. Cortisone injections or pills and anthralin, a medication used to treat psoriasis, may be useful in the treatment of alopecia areata. Surgical measures for baldness, such as hair transplant and scalp reduction, carry risks and may be painful.
Camouflage Techniques
The HairFinder website suggests that women with thinning hair may find that adding curl and volume to their hairstyle helps to compensate for sparse hair. Women also have the option of choosing a good quality wig.
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