Hair Loss In Women

Feminine hair loss, or thinning hair, is actually quite a commonplace problem. The technical term for a woman with hair loss is female pattern alopecia. The hair loss can be distributed all over the head, or it can be localized in certain areas much like male pattern baldness. It's more typical to see female pattern hair loss in women after they have gone through menopause and has the potential to affect over 30% of women with a genetic predisposition to female pattern alopecia. Usually, the hair loss is seen as a gradual thinning. Speaking in genetic terms, hair loss can come from either side of the family.

The pattern of female hair loss is usually a gradual thinning of the hair by hairs falling out and being replaced by progressively shorter hairs, leading to a large degree of thinning or complete baldness in the affected area. The most common area of the head affected by female baldness is both the front and top of the head, with the potential effect being quite dramatic and devastating to many.

Though it is most commonly seen after menopause it is also possible to see hair loss after pregnancy or after you stop taking birth control pills, and it may be seen as soon as puberty. Other possible causes of female pattern baldness are illness or stress, these causes may lead to only temporary hair loss and the hair will regrow without intervention though it may take some time to do so.

Treatment typically involves the use of Rogaine (minoxidil) which is the only FDA medication currently approved for female hair loss. It is a topical application to the skin done on a regular basis. Propecia is reported to be ineffective in women. Another medication, Aldactone, may help many women but takes to time to begin working and is most effective for those that have hair loss beginning before menopause. Some hormone replacement pills have been seen to be effective following menopause. Hair transplant is also an option in some women.

In attempting to minimize the effects of hair loss, one ought to first investigate the different options available. The quality of hair additions and wigs has been improving, although these methods are not necessarily guaranteed to improve a woman's appearance. Other options that seek to make hair loss less noticeable include treatment, which does not always work, as well as cosmetic methods including perms and dyeing.