Although daily hair loss of 50–100 hairs is considered typical, more than half of women in the world will develop female pattern baldness. As a result, substantial hair loss can trigger anxiety, tension, and a general lack of self-assurance. To help you deal with hair loss, we’ll examine the factors that contribute to it, as well as the symptoms and therapies that have been shown to be effective.
The Roots of Female-Pattern Baldness
The most frequent kind of hair loss in women is female pattern baldness. Female pattern baldness is mostly caused by heredity. Alopecia areata is a genetic trait since it can be inherited from either parent. Hair cycles are getting shorter and shorter. Because of this, the time span between the shedding and the growing phases is extended. Even the hair follicles and the hair shafts themselves might be affected by your genetic makeup.
Female pattern baldness can be caused by a number of factors, including your age and the hormones in your body. Hair loss increases with age because menopause lowers oestrogen levels. Due to the increased effectiveness of the androgen hormones found in men, this might cause shedding.
The Signs and Symptoms of Female-Pattern Baldness
Male and female pattern baldness may share the same etiology, although their manifestations are distinct. Female androgenetic alopecia causes hair to thin and become more delicate since the hair development phase slows down. Due to the hair follicle becoming smaller, the hair may become more fragile. Unlike male-pattern baldness, complete baldness is less likely to occur with this type of excessive hair loss, which might affect the temples.
Female pattern baldness often starts at the part and can spread across the scalp. In most cases, thinning hair may be classified into one of three primary categories using the Ludwig scale. Variations in severity, as well as frontal and advanced subtypes, are depicted in the diagram. Thinner hair at the part is a hallmark of type I. In type II, the component becomes progressively wider and thinner. When it reaches the third stage, the scalp becomes visibly thinner overall.
This Christmas tree-like pattern is very identifiable, thus a doctor or dermatologist may usually make a diagnosis merely by looking. To rule out other potential causes, a blood test might examine your body for mineral shortages or hormone imbalances like a sluggish thyroid.
Remedy for Female-Pattern Baldness
Topical medication
Female pattern baldness can be treated if the underlying cause of hair loss has been identified. Various medicinal therapies, including topical preparations like Minoxidil, have been shown to promote hair growth. Regular use is required, and it may take 6-12 months before you notice a difference.
Any advancement will be lost if the application is abandoned. Although it cannot restore all of your hair, it can make it look thicker than it otherwise would. It can also have unintended consequences, such as skin irritation, redness, and hair growth in unsightly places.
Oral medication
However, unlike male pattern baldness, which has a wider range of oral medications available for treatment, female pattern baldness has fewer options. Finasteride and dutasteride, which have been demonstrated to aid hair growth in males, are not routinely prescribed for women. This is because some of the negative consequences include irritability, headaches, and even birth abnormalities in pregnant women.
Spironolactone has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit androgen production, and it is typically used for the treatment of hair loss in females. Oral drugs like minoxidil need to be taken regularly to keep working, and the hair growth they induce will halt if the patient stops taking the drug. A lack of energy, an imbalance of electrolytes, and erratic menstruation are all possible side effects of this medicine. As a result of these potential negative effects, your doctor may want to monitor your blood pressure and electrolytes on a regular basis while you take spironolactone. Similar to other oral drugs, it should not be taken if you are pregnant or attempting to conceive.
FUE Hair Transplant
Only a hair transplant can solve the underlying cause of female pattern baldness permanently. However, specialists have shown that the outcomes can be just as good as with hair transplantation for males, so women shouldn’t automatically rule out surgical options.
At Hair Transplant Centre Malaysia clinic in Kuala Lumpur (Petaling Jaya), we specialise in treating female pattern baldness using a highly effective method by Dr Inder. Our patients are overjoyed with the fantastic results of the combination of these two techniques, which gave them back full, natural-looking heads of hair.
