Female pattern baldness is condition that interrupts the normal growth cycle of your hair. The time frame for hair growth is reduced and leads to an increase in the amount of hair loss. The hair that grows back is likely to be thinner and more fragile. You should contact your doctor if you suspect you are suffering from female pattern baldness.
Identification
Female pattern baldness is also referred to as androgenetic alopecia. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is most likely caused by genetics. If anyone in your family has suffered from hair loss, you are more likely to experience the problem. You can inherit androgenetic alopecia from either side of your family.
Causes
Other causes besides genetics that can lead to pattern baldness in women are hormone changes and aging. The level of the endocrine hormones in the body is linked to female pattern baldness. According to the Medline Plus website, changes in the level of the androgen hormones can cause changes in a woman's hair growth cycle.
How Hair Is Lost
Females will lose hair differently than men. Instead of a receding hairline, the front portions of the hair typically stay in place. The hair will thin out in the other areas first. In rare cases the hair loss results in complete baldness.
Prevention/Solution
Female pattern baldness is typically first treated with the use of minoxidil, an over-the-counter topical solution. The minoxidil solution is applied twice a day to the scalp to open up the follicles and stimulate hair growth. If hormone changes are the suspected cause of the condition, hormone replacement pills may be prescribed. Hair-restoration surgery can also be performed. This involves the surgical implantation of skin grafts with hair follicles attached to the balding areas of the scalp.
Considerations
If a woman loses hair due to female pattern baldness, the results are permanent and require treatment to be reversed. Receiving treatment early on can allow you to lessen the effects of the condition. Notify a doctor if you notice a large amount of hair in the drain after showering or the hair looks thinned out in sections.
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