FEMALE HAIR LOSS (ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA)

Whilst genetic thinning and hair loss is more common in men, tens of thousands of women in the USA and worldwide also suffer from the condition. However, it affects the genders differently. While men experience 'vertex balding' and/or 'receding frontal hairline', women generally experience 'diffuse thinning', generally throughout the top of the head or crown.

Androgenic Alopecia in women usually begins at around the age of 30 (but can occur as early as in the 20’s). The thinning hair usually becomes noticeable around the age 40, and may be even more noticeable after the menopause. By the age of 50, approximately 50% of women will experience some degree of hair thinning.

Female hair loss is often an overall thinning, e.g. two hairs where five used to be, rather than a bald area on top of the head like men. Women sometimes have a receding hairline too. As in males, hair follicles simply shut down with hormones playing some role in the process.

Pregnancy, stress, some medications, or a poor diet can cause hair thinning, but 70% of women who experience this can attribute it to Androgenic Alopecia, or Female Pattern Baldness (FPB). The signs and symptons of FPB are general thinning of hair all over the head and moderate loss of hair on the crown or hairline. Within these follicles, biologically active testosterone is converted by an enzyme into a much more potent testosterone called 'Dihydrotestosterone' (DHT). It is this powerful hormone, which inhibits the metabolism for the forming of the genetically pre-disposed hair cells, resulting in the gradual process of finer, weaker hairs, as the follicle continues to shrink. Eventually these hair follicles die, resulting in irreversible baldness.

The Thinning Process

As you age, the effects of hormones and age cause certain hair follicles to get smaller and smaller. This prevents the hair from fulfilling its regular growth process. Hair follicles gradually become smaller and the period of time in which the hair grows is reduced causing each hair to become finer and shorter with each hair growth cycle.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes are a common cause of female hair loss. After pregnancy or discontinuation of birth control pills, many women experience hair thinning to varying degrees, usually on a temporary basis.

While a women is pregnant, and hormonal changes are occuring, more hair follicles enter the growth phase than normal. About two to three months after childbirth, the normal hair cycle returns and many hairs re-enter the resting phase causing excessive shedding. When this happens, a women will start to shed more hair than usual. As a result she will usually notice large amounts of hair in her brush and bath. This is usually a temporary condition and as hormone levels in the body return to pre-pregnancy levels after about six months, the excessive shedding normally ends. If this condition continues after six months then a women may be experiencing hereditary hair thinning which was masked by childbirth.

There can be many reasons for hair loss please click on the links below to read about hair loss causes.

Celiac Disease associated Alopecia Hair Loss	Psoriasis Hair Loss
Diffuse Hair Loss	Scalp Ring Worm Hair Loss
Female Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenic Alopecia)	Scarring Alopecia Hair Loss
Folliculitis Decalvans Hair Loss	Scleroderma Hair Loss
Folliculitis Hair Loss	Seborrhoeic Dermatitus / Eczema Hair Loss
Lichen Planopilaris Hair Loss	Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss
Lichen Planus Hair Loss	Trichotillomania Hair Loss
Lupus Hair Loss