Introduction
Alopecia, or hair loss, is a relatively prevalent disorder that can result from natural or unnatural causes and affects many people. Alopecia can negatively impact confidence and self-esteem in people of both sexes.
Many women may experience emotional distress as a result of female pattern baldness, especially if it develops when they are young. A woman’s hair plays a key role in her personality and sense of style. Losing her hair can make her feel less confident.
Women who suddenly lose a lot of hair are said to be experiencing hair loss. Humans typically lose between 50 and 100 individual strands of hair each day. Hair shedding is a normal process in which some hair falls out and new hair grows. Hair loss occurs when the equilibrium is upset—when less hair grows in and more hair falls out. Note that hair shedding is not the same as hair loss.
Let us read in detail about female pattern baldness.
What is female pattern baldness?
Alopecia is the name for uncontrollably and significantly losing a lot of hair. It can be acquired or inherited, meaning that it can happen as a result of external influences like the environment or genetic hair loss in the family in the past.
Recent hormonal changes, family history, ageing, and systemic or scalp-related medical conditions are common reasons. Another potential risk is pregnancy, although luckily, this is a temporary cause.
Baldness is the result of extreme hair loss and refers to the lack of hair. It frequently relates to becoming older.
Consult your doctor if you believe you have female pattern baldness before beginning a new course of therapy. Make sure you aren’t taking any medications because they might make hair loss worse.
Classification of female pattern baldness
Doctors identify female pattern hair loss using the Ludwig Classification. Type I thinning is minor and may be concealed with hairstyle methods, however, Type II thinning is marked by waning volume and an obvious widening of the mid-line portion. Type III denotes a widespread thinning that gives the top of the scalp a see-through appearance.
Types of female pattern baldness
There are various types of female pattern baldness. The first two types are the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) types, resulting from the male hormone testosterone.
Here are different types of female pattern baldness:
Androgenetic alopecia
Unlike male pattern baldness, this results in scalp-wide hair thinning. An abundance of androgens is to blame for this. Androgenetic alopecia can be brought on by conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, using oral birth control tablets with a high androgen index, menopause, etc. The main factor behind this kind of female pattern baldness is genetics.
Anagen effluvium
This mostly occurs in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy. This is brought on by cellular damage to the hair follicles.
The metabolic and mitotic processes in hair follicles are hampered. Chemotherapy medications target your body’s quickly dividing cells. One such class of cell is the hair follicle. Therefore, during the anagen stage of development, more than 90% of the hair falls off.
Telogen effluvium
Significant bodily changes including pregnancy, malnutrition, systemic illness, mental stress, or major surgery are the main causes of this.
Approximately 1 to 6 months after a recent stressful incident, hair loss becomes noticeable. This type of female pattern baldness is fully reversible. But in some women, it might linger for weeks, months, or even a few years without any identifiable causes.
Alopecia areata
This is a condition in which a female’s immune system starts attacking the hair follicles, causing patchy hair to fall—about 70% of the individuals with this recover within two years, with or without treatment.
Causes of female pattern baldness
Genetic factors: Androgenic alopecia is a more prevalent kind brought on by genetic components. Males tend to have a receding hairline, whereas women typically experience it on the top of their crown. The top of your head may initially show signs of hair thinning.
Unbalanced hormones: This issue may be long-term or transient. Female pattern baldness may result from a number of factors, including high androgen quotient birth control tablets, thyroid issues, pregnancy, delivery, immune system-related causes, etc.
Hairstyling and treatments: Tight hairstyles pull on the roots and result in hair loss. If you often tie very tight ponytails and choose hairdos that require several pins, sprays, or gels to hold them in place, this might eventually cause more hair to fall out than to regrow.
Stress: Hair loss brought on by transient circumstances is common in today’s busy and complex lifestyles. Hair loss can occur occasionally when one is under physical, mental, or emotional stress.
Symptoms of female pattern baldness
Male pattern baldness is different from hair thinning in female pattern baldness. Symptoms of hair thinning in females are as follows:
- Mainly the top and crown of the head experience hair thinning. Usually, it widens across the middle of the hair portion. The Christmas tree pattern of hair loss refers to this pattern.
- Your hair loss becomes evident on a daily with hair on your brush, the floor, in the shower, on your pillows, or in the sink.
- Seeing pronounced areas of hair loss or thinning, especially a section on top of your head that becomes broader.
- Scalp skin can be seen through the hair
- Shaved-down ponytails
- Seeing hair fall out more rapidly
Treatment of female pattern baldness
Your doctor could advise you to take some drugs that can be applied topically. Medications, like Minoxidil, are typically sold without a prescription for hair baldness. Additionally, doctors advise using oral medications like dutasteride and spironolactone. To prevent an increase in hair loss, it is important to remember that these drugs must not be taken without a doctor’s prescription.
These drugs may be prescribed by your doctor for an extended period of time, such as over a year. It’s possible that the outcomes won’t be apparent for several months.
One of the newest treatments to help you regrow your hair is a hair transplant. Given the lengthy treatment and numerous appointments with the dermatologist and cosmetologist, it is also affordable.
Final thoughts
Female pattern baldness is a prevalent issue that, if treated early, provides a number of remedies. It’s crucial to speak with your doctor in order to determine the precise source of the issue. Even if you might be unable to stop all of the causes of hair loss, the first step is to take good care of your health. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating food that is nutritious and well-balanced.
A timely diagnosis of female pattern baldness is a great way to prevent and manage this condition.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. Which shampoo is best for female hair loss?
Clinically-proven hair fall treatment shampoos
Q. Which hormone is responsible for baldness in females?
Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
Q. Does female pattern hair loss get worse?
Female pattern hair loss refers to thinning of hair across your scalp, which can get worse over decades as you age.
Q. What are the signs of hair loss in women?
- Scalp skin can be seen through the hair
- Shaved-down ponytails
- Seeing hair fall out more rapidly
