Hair loss is often hereditary but can also be caused by changes in hormones or other stressors.
Hair loss can occur in women for reasons other than female-pattern baldness. These some of these are
- temporary shedding of hair (telogen effluvium)
- breaking of hair
- patchy areas of total hair loss (alopecia areata)
- oral medications
- certain skin diseases
- pregnancy
- menopause
- other hormonal changes
Parsa Mohebi, MD Reviews – The Typical Pattern of Female-Pattern Hair Loss
Female-pattern baldness is characterized by thinning of the hair all over the head, usually the frontal hairline is unchanged. Sometimes there is a moderate loss of hair on the crown, but FPB rarely progresses to total or near baldness as it may in men.
Female-pattern baldness hair loss is permanent. The hair loss is usually mild to moderate. No treatment is required if the person is comfortable with her appearance. It can be treated with medication or hair restoration through hair transplant surgery.
USA’s (FDA) approved minoxidil to treat female-pattern baldness. It is a topical treatment that has proven successful. It may help hair to grow in 40% of the population, and in 90% it may slow the loss of hair. Hair loss recurs when its use is stopped.
Failure to grow a new hair is closely linked with genetic predisposition, aging, and levels of endocrine hormones. Changes in the levels of the 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, the follicle remains alive, suggesting the possibility of new hair growth.
Women are not only treating scalp hair with hair restoration surgery they also are using it to enhance eyebrows, to cover some scarring when appropriate.
Dr. Mohebi is the medical director of Los Angeles hair restoration centers with locations throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.
