Female Pattern Baldness: Causes And Treatments To Minimize It

Losing over 100 hair strands a day is normal. These fallen hair strands are most likely to be in their hair growth cycle, and new hair will soon grow back in its place. But this doesn’t happen in the case of female pattern baldness – where one may notice bald patches on the scalp or clumpy hair fall. What causes this type of baldness? Is it reversible? Does it have any treatment options? Keep reading to know more.

What Is Female Pattern Baldness?

Female pattern baldness is characterized with excess hair loss and thinning. Although hair loss and balding is often associated with males, hair loss in women is also quite common. Women with female pattern baldness experience hair thinning that affects their hair volume. Although there will be no receding hairline, the scalp becomes visible.

A study conducted on 472 women with female pattern hair loss found that 8% had a reported diagnosis of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Further tests and examination led to a diagnosis of PCOS in an additional 12 patients (2%).

Let us take a look at the various causes of female pattern baldness.

What Causes Female Pattern Baldness?

Genetics play a major role in female pattern baldness. Another cause could be an underlying condition that affects the production of androgen. A few other causes include:

• PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome may also cause hair loss or hair thinning in some women. This hair loss begins at the vertex of the head (1).

• Thyroid Disorder: Thyroid dysfunction may also cause hair loss and baldness in some women (2).

• Menopause: Some research shows women may experience hair loss during pre-menopause (3). Anecdotal evidence suggests that this may happen during menopause too.

• Medications: Certain medications may also cause hair loss (2). However, hair often regrows after you stop taking them.

• Illness: Severe infections and high fever may also cause hair loss (also called telogen effluvium).

There are various types of hair loss apart from female pattern baldness. Learn the symptoms of FPB to check if you have it or another hair loss type.

Symptoms Of Female Pattern Baldness

• Look for gradual shrinking of hair follicles that follow a specific pattern.
• The affected areas often include the crown region, upper parietal scalp, and, in some cases, the frontoparietal regions (4)
• Follow the Ludwig scale to check for FPB. First you may notice hair thinning at the crown, then hair begins to shed in the area with the preservation of the frontal hairline. Finally, there is heavy hair loss.
• You may notice a frontal midline recession, creating a central scalp thinning like a triangular-shaped figure resembling a Christmas tree.
• Check for thinning associated with bitemporal recession (lateral-frontal part of the scalp and vertex), resembling male pattern baldness.

How To Diagnose Female Pattern Baldness

You can consult your doctor or dermatologist if you notice hair thinning or increased hair loss. They will examine your scalp to determine the hair loss pattern. If they suspect a different cause for your hair loss, they may conduct blood tests to arrive at a conclusion.

Treating female pattern baldness is important as it also may help reduce the chances of hair loss in the future. Some of these treatment methods are discussed in the next section.

What Are The Treatment options?

1. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a popular over-the-counter medication used for treating hair loss in men and women. It is a topical medication applied to the scalp everyday. It may encourage new hair growth while preventing further hair thinning (4). It also can increase hair follicle size. However, this medication may not show the same results in all.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the medication also may cause scalp dryness or itching. Hence, consult your doctor before using minoxidil.

Quick Tip

Regularly massage your scalp to enhance blood circulation. Use your fingertips to stimulate the scalp gently. This promotes a healthy environment for hair growth.

2. Spironolactone

One of the more popular oral medications that help treat female pattern baldness is spironolactone. This medication helps block the production of the androgen hormone – potentially preventing hair loss and helping with hair regrowth (4), (6). However, it may cause some adverse effects including dry mouth, nausea, and dizziness. More information is warranted in this regard. There is less information on the safety of spironolactone in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid taking it without consulting your dermatologist.

3. Hair Transplant

You may opt for a hair transplant if medications are ineffective. Female pattern baldness usually affects some areas of the scalp. During the hair transplant procedure, doctors remove some of the hair follicles from the unaffected areas with healthy hair growth. They transplant these hair follicles to the affected areas.

4. Laser Treatment

Laser treatment

involves low levels of laser lights that are emitted to stimulate hair growth (7). However, these treatments are usually expensive.

So, how long does it take for female pattern baldness to progress? Let’s find out.

How Long Does Female Pattern Baldness Take To Progress?

Female pattern baldness may affect women of any age group. However, it most commonly occurs in women after menopause. The hair loss may not be constant. You may see a slow increase in hair loss for 3 to 6 months, followed by stable hair growth for 6 to 12 months.

As it is primarily caused by genetics, it cannot be totally prevented. However, one can follow a few steps to reduce hair damage and breakage.

Minimizing Female Pattern Baldness

• Avoid perming, straightening, or dyeing your hair. These methods can damage your hair follicles.
• Eat a diet rich in protein, vitamins, and iron. These can promote healthy hair growth.
• Avoid excess sun exposure. UV rays may impair the hair shafts and lead to hair loss (8). Use a SPF spray or a hat while going in the sun.

Quick Tip

Switch to silk pillowcases to minimize friction on your hair while sleeping. This reduces the risk of hair breakage and helps maintain the overall health of your hair.

When To See A Doctor

Visit a dermatologist if you experience female pattern baldness. Women may experience hair loss for different reasons. The right diagnosis helps you understand the underlying causes and take the right measures.

Takeaway

Frequently Asked Questions

Is female pattern baldness reversible?

Female pattern baldness is usually irreversible without treatment. However, there are medical treatments that can help in hair regrowth.

Does female pattern baldness happen suddenly?

It can occur suddenly or gradually over time. Diet, medications, illness, and childbirth are the main causes of sudden female pattern baldness.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Shruti ChavanMBBS

   

Dr. Shruti Chavan is a consulting dermatologist at Dr.Sheth's Skin and Hair Clinic since 6 years. She is a co-committee member of CDSI (Cosmetic dermatologist Society of India). She is highly skilled in non-surgical facial skin rejuvenation and face lift by the use of injection treatments and lasers.

Read full bio of Dr. Shruti Chavan

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

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Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

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