Hair loss that affects women is known as androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. It is not as common as male pattern baldness, and it presents differently in women. Genetics plays a role in this condition, but there are also different causes and a wide variety of treatments.
What Is It?
The first thing most women notice in female pattern baldness is less thickness or hair volume, which may cause them to seek treatment for hair restoration Westchester County NY. The loss in volume and thickness is due to the general thinning of the hair. Women may also notice their part may begin to widen. In contrast to male pattern baldness, the hairline does not typically recede in women. Even though it is not as common as male pattern baldness, it still affects many women. Less than 50 percent of women will have a full head of hair all their lives with the risk of hair loss increasing as they age.
What Causes It?
Female pattern baldness tends to run in families, which implicates genetics as the main factor in developing the condition. Even though it is female pattern baldness, it can be inherited from either parent. It is thought that hormonal changes may also contribute because the condition frequently develops after menopause. It is more common in older women, although it can happen earlier in life.
Other causes of hair loss in women include an autoimmune condition, hormones, illness, medications, and hairstyle choice. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that leads to hair loss because it causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles. Hormone fluctuations surrounding menopause are thought to contribute to hair loss, but so is a hormone called androgen. An underlying condition such as a tumor on the pituitary gland or ovary can cause androgen to be secreted, resulting in hair loss. Sometimes after a high fever, surgery, severe infection, or other significant illness, hair loss can occur. Cancer medications can cause temporary hair loss that usually stops when the person stops taking the medication. Wearing hairstyles that put too much stress on the hair by pulling it too tightly can cause hair loss known as traction alopecia.
Female pattern baldness looks different from male pattern baldness mainly because women tend to lose volume and thickness while experiencing widening. A receding hairline is not typical in women. The most significant cause is thought to be genetic, and it is known to run in families, but there are other, less likely causes.
