Hair Loss in Women - Female Pattern Baldness

Often assumed to occur only to men, hair loss in women is also prevalent. It has been estimated that only 45% of all women go through their life with a full head of hairs!

Almost every female develops female pattern hair loss which occurs any time after the onset of puberty. It is often observed in severe cases after menopause. The risk of developing this problem increases with age.

This problem basically refers to the loss of hairs due to aging, genes or hormones. This is also known as alopecia and may also be a result of other causes such as sudden weight loss, fever, childbirth, extreme amount of stress, hormonal changes, genes, reaction to a medication, etc. It may also occur due to ageing and is an extremely devastating problem which may have shattering negative effects on one's self-image as well as emotional well-being.

In extreme cases, even baldness may occur, known as female pattern baldness. Similar to male pattern baldness, this type of hair loss refers to the complete loss of hairs, where new hairs does not even grow back. In such extreme cases, various changes in the androgens (male hormones) may occur to the body. This usually occurs after reaching menopause. The hair often becomes thinner at the crown, but coarser on the face.

Other than female pattern baldness hair loss may occur due to a variety of other reasons. Some of these include certain autoimmune diseases, skin diseases which lead to the scarring of hair follicles and hormonal changes such as too little thyroid hormone or too much testerone.

Female pattern baldness is different from male pattern baldness in the manner the hair becomes thin. Here, the hair usually thins at the top and crown of the scalp. It stars with a widening through the centre of the hair. The hair line, most often does not progress to total or complete baldness as it does for men.

Various other reasons may include low levels of vitamin B (biotin) or any other vitamin deficiency, certain types of medications such as beta blockers or chemotherapy, syphilis-a sexually transmitted disease, low levels of iron in the body, breakage of the hair as a result of various treatments such as hair shaft abnormalities (present from birth), different treatments, various twisting or pulling of the hairs.

In order to identify or diagnose whether you actually are suffering from female pattern baldness, you need to rule out any other causes first. Besides that you have to keep the family medical history into account as well as the appearance and pattern of the loss of hair. You may also be examined to see whether you have other signs of excessive male hormone (androgens) such as changes in the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, new acne as well as abnormal new hair growth, such as on the face or between the belly button and the pubic area.

In some cases even a skin biopsy may be taken as well as blood tests to diagnose any skin disorder which has led to the hair loss.

There are a number of causal factors which may lead to female pattern baldness . Similar to male pattern baldness, this type of hair loss is caused to a number of factors such as reaction to certain medications or treatments, certain illnesses, sudden loss in weight, stress, etc.