Overview
Thinning hair on the scalp can be a distressing and embarrassing problem if you are a woman. Approximately 50 percent of women notice the effects of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) by age 50, while some women develop the problem at an even younger age, according to the North American Hair Research Society (NAHRS). Female hair loss treatment is aimed at reducing thinning hair and restoring hair growth.
Identification
FPHL, also called female pattern alopecia, affects hair differently than male pattern hair loss. When men suffer from male pattern hair loss, hair gradually falls out on the top of the head and is not replaced by new hair. Women don’t usually experience complete hair loss on the crown. Instead, hair becomes thinner on the scalp and part. When hairs fall out from the scalp, they are replaced with much shorter hairs, giving a peach fuzz appearance to the hair. FPHL can be inherited from either parent or can occur for unknown reasons.
Age of Onset
Onset of FPHL occurs at two key times, according to NAHRS. Early-onset FPHL happens when a women is in her teens to 20s, while late-onset FPHL affects women between 40 and 50 years of age. Women who develop the early-onset form of the condition usually have a strong family history of hair loss in male family members and may have developed the problem due to abnormal androgen levels. Androgen is a male hormone needed for hair growth. Women who experience early FPHL may also have a problem with excess hair growth on the face, irregular menstrual cycles and chronic acne. The reason for hair loss in women in the late-onset group isn’t clear.
Other Reasons for Hair Loss
Hair loss can also occur due to changing hormone levels in pregnancy, when using hormonal forms of birth control or from the effects of psychological or physical stress, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. When hair loss occurs for one of these reasons, it is called telogen effluvium. Women who experience hair loss due to telogen effluvium will most likely notice a return to normal hair growth when a stressful event or a pregnancy ends or when another form of birth control is used.
Traction alopecia can occur if a woman constantly wears tight hats or hairstyles, such as ponytails. Hair loss due to traction alopecia only affects a small area of the scalp and does not cause thinning hair. Hair growth will return to these areas if there is no scarring caused by the constant tension on the hair and scalp.
Diagnosis
Doctors evaluate the hair loss pattern, condition of the scalp and the amount of hair shedding when examining a hair loss patient. Blood tests can be helpful in diagnosing conditions that can lead to FPHL. A biopsy of the scalp may be useful in determining the cause of thinning hair.
Treatment
Minoxidil, a topical medication applied directly to the scalp, may be helpful in reducing hair loss and for encouraging new growth. Minoxidil use helps hair transition into an active growth stage and allows hair to grow longer. Women who have early-onset FPHL may benefit from taking androgen receptor inhibitors that work to decrease and block excess androgen.
