Female pattern baldness is a type of hair loss that badly affects women. The medical name for the stipulation is androgenetic alopecia. Although both men and women may undergo hair loss, it is not as widespread in women as in men and seem differently. Men who have hair loss tend to produce a receding hairline and bald spots. Women with female pattern baldness ordinarily experience general hair thinning, which affects the volume of their hair.
In women, the first signs of female pattern baldness may be a broadening part or a feeling that the hair does not feel as thick as usual. Although the scalp may be in sight, the hairline usually does not withdraw. Hair loss is less prevailing in women than in men, but it still takes place often. Female baldness furrows with age, and fewer than 50 percent women have a full head of hair for their whole life.
Genetics seems to be a significant factor in developing female pattern baldness, which means it runs in families. Women can acquire the gene for pattern baldness from either of the parent. This pattern baldness tends to be more common as a woman ages and reaches midlife, although it can commence much earlier. It often begins after menopause, so hormonal changes may also be a significant factor.
Female pattern baldness is largely thought to happen due to genetics. Nevertheless, it may also develop due to an underlying condition that affects the exhibition of the hormone androgen. Androgen is a hormone that shows a role in pattern baldness. Tumors of the pituitary gland or that of ovaries, which release androgen, may also trail to hair loss.
Other contributing factors of Female pattern baldness include:
- Autoimmune disease: Alopecia areata is a rare autoimmune disorder that postulates the immune system to attack the hair follicles leading towards hair loss.
- Medication: some of the medications, like those that are used to treat cancer, can lead towards hair loss as a side effect. However, hair usually regrows once a person has stopped consumption of this medication.
- Illness: Hair loss can develop after a significant illness, this may be after a severe infection, high fever, or some surgery.
- Traction alopecia: This is hair loss that happens when a person frequently wears hairstyles that pull the hair too firmly.
The type of treatment recommended depends up on the extent of the hair loss, in addition to other contributing factors. Treatment for female pattern baldness can help prevent future hair loss and may result in evolution of some hair. In most cases, long-term management is needed to prevent hair loss from recurring.
1. Minoxidil: this is a form of topical medication that is used to treat hair loss in both men and women. The lotion is applied to the scalp every day and may stimulate hair growth, as well as forbid further hair thinning. This solution usually can take 6 months to a year to produce visible results and does not work for each and everyone. Side effects can show up in the form of dryness, redness, and itching. Hair loss may return after a person stops usage of topical solution.
2. Oral medication: One of the most common oral medications used to get rid of baldness is spironolactone, that is a diuretic. Diuretics take off excess water from the body. The medication may also block the creation of androgen, which may cease hair loss and help hair regrow. Women who are pregnant should not take spironolactone due to a prospect that they might undergo congenital disabilities.
3. Hair transplant: A hair transplant encompasses moving hair to an area of the scalp where it is missing. Most of the women may choose to have a hair transplant. Various techniques may be used to execute hair transplantation. The doctor performs the process while a person is awake, and it takes many hours. A person will be given a local anesthetic to avoid pain.
