Female-pattern baldness is a pattern of
hair loss (alopecia) caused by hormones, aging and genetics. Unlike
male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness is an over-all
thinning which maintains the normal hairline.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Hair grows from its
follicle at an average rate of about 1/2 inch per month. Each hair
grows for 2 to 6 years, then rests, and then falls out. A new hair
soon begins growing in its place. At any one time, about 85% of the
hair is growing and 15% is resting.
Baldness occurs when hair falls out but
new hair does not grow in its place. The cause of the failure to
grow new hair in female pattern baldness is not well understood, but
it is associated with genetic predisposition, aging, and levels of
endocrine hormones (particularly
androgens, the male sex hormones).
Changes in the levels of androgens can affect
hair production. For example, after the hormonal changes of
menopause, many women find that the hair
on the head is thinned, while facial hair is coarser. Although new
hair is not produced, follicles remain alive, suggesting the
possibility of new hair growth.
The typical pattern of female pattern baldness
is different from that of
male pattern baldness. The hair thins all
over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained. There may be
a moderate loss of hair on the crown, but this rarely progresses to
total or near baldness as it may in men.
Hair loss can occur in
women for reasons other than female pattern baldness, including the
following:
- Temporary
shedding of hair (telogen effluvium)
- Breaking of hair
(from such things as styling treatments and twisting or pulling
of hair)
- Patchy areas of
total hair loss (alopecia areata -- an immune disorder causing
temporary hair loss)
- Medications
- Certain skin
diseases
Symptoms
- Thinning of hair
over the entire head
-
Hair loss at the crown or hairline,
mild to moderate
Signs and tests
Female pattern baldness
is usually diagnosed based on the appearance and pattern of hair
loss and by ruling out other causes of hair loss.
A
skin biopsy or other procedures may be
used to diagnose medical disorders that cause loss of hair.
Hair analysis is not
accurate for diagnosing nutritional or similar causes of hair loss,
although it may reveal substances such as arsenic or lead.
Treatment
The
hair loss of female pattern baldness is
permanent. In most cases, it is mild to moderate. No treatment is
required if the person is comfortable with her appearance.
The only drug or
medication approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is minoxidil,
used topically on the scalp. For women, the 2% concentration is
recommended. Minoxidil may help hair to grow in 20% to 25% of the
female population, and in the majority it may slow or stop the loss
of hair. Treatment is expensive, however. Hair loss recurs when
minoxidil's use is stopped.
Hair transplants consist
of removal of tiny plugs of hair from areas where the hair is
continuing to grow and placing them in areas that are balding. This
can cause minor scarring in the donor areas and carries a modest
risk for skin infection. The procedure usually requires multiple
transplantation sessions and may be expensive. Results, however, are
often excellent and permanent.
Hair weaving,
hairpieces, or change of hairstyle may disguise hair loss and
improve cosmetic appearance. This is often the least expensive and
safest method of treating female pattern baldness.
After
Atlanta's Hair Solutions consultation and service.
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