Hereditary Hair Loss in Women

It is a disease most women are too ashamed to talk about. Those living with it will go to great lengths to hide it from friends, coworkers, even family members. What kind of disease could cause such grief? Androgenetic alopecia, referred to as hereditary hair loss, also known as female-pattern baldness. At one time doctors thought only men suffered from this type of hair loss. Today, we know that women account for roughly forty percent of hair loss sufferers. And we know that female-pattern hair thinning is also the most common form of hair loss in women. Those living with the disease know all too well, just how emotionally and psychologically devastating it is for a woman to lose her hair. The purpose of this blog post is to provide helpful, reliable information to the millions of women suffering with female-pattern baldness. It is written in a way, we think, helps to explain howgenetic hair loss differs in men and women, which women are at risk, andoffers some specific hair loss treatments for women.

Unlike male-pattern baldness, women experience androgenetic alopecia as dispersed hair thinning rather than actual balding. Although it occurs in normal, healthy women, and can come from either the mother’s or father’s genes, that actual cause is still unknown. What is known is that the hormone DHT appears to be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization of hair follicles in women suffering with female-pattern baldness. Women’s hair follicles appear to become weakened by an increase of the DHT hormone found in the hair shaft of women with the disease.

Unlike male-pattern baldness, which follows a distinct pattern of hair loss around the temple and at the top of the head (almost like an M shape), female-pattern baldness causes thinning of hair throughout the head. The thinning tends to be the most noticeable at the part line, on the top of the head, and at the crown. Hair loss in women rarely progresses to total baldness.

Scientists believe that the occurrence of female-pattern baldness is related to aging and genetics. Even though heredity plays a role in androgenetic alopecia, there are many genes as well as environmental factors involved.

Currently, the FDA has approved Minoxidil (Rogaine)as a treatment option for female-pattern baldness. Minoxidil works by prolonging the growth phase of hair –providing more time for hair to grow out to its full density. Low-level laser therapy helps stimulate hair growth and could be a viable hair loss treatment for women. Surgical hair loss treatment is another option. There are several different hair restoration treatment alternatives available for women.

We encourage you to find out more about the variety of options available to treat hair loss in men and women. If you're concerned about your thinning hair or hair loss, it's important to consult with an experienced hair restoration professional.

To learn more about treating hair loss and regrowth treatment options or to consult with a Capillus specialist in your area click here or call Capillus for more information at (786) 888 6249 or Toll-Free at 1 (888) 272-9599.