Hair & Hair-loss Women's hair loss

Androgenetic Alopecia

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia or baldness. Female pattern baldness usually begins about age 30, becomes noticeable around age 40, and may be even more noticeable after menopause. This is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top and sides of the head. It affects approximately one-third of all susceptible women, but is most commonly seen after menopause, although it may begin as early as puberty. this hair loss associated with early puberty can progress to more advanced hair loss if it is left untreated.

Normal hair fall is approximately 100-125 hairs per day. Fortunately, these hairs are replaced. True hair loss occurs when lost hairs are not re-grown or when the daily hair shed exceeds 125 hairs.

Hair loss in both men and women is again, partly genetic and partly hormonal. Genetically, hair loss can come from either parents' side of the family.

In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia - an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles. However, women with hair loss due to this cause usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men - for example, women rarely develop the "cue-ball" appearance often seen in male-pattern androgenetic alopecia.

Patterns of female androgenetic alopecia can vary considerably in appearance. In general, there are three patterns of hair loss in female androgenetic alopecia:

* Grade I: Diffuse thinning of hair over the entire scalp, often with more noticeable thinning toward the back of the scalp.

* Grade II: Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp but not involving the frontal hairline.

* Grade III: Male-pattern alopecia diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp, involving and sometimes breaching the frontal hairline. However, it is very rare to see complete male-pattern "cue-ball" baldness in a woman.

Ludwig Classification of Female Pattern Baldness

If you are a woman with thinning or lost scalp hair, your first necessary step is to have the condition correctly diagnosed by a physician hair restoration specialist. After a diagnosis is made, the physician will recommend an approach to effective medical or surgical treatment.

Causes of hair loss: Surgeries, severe illness, and emotional stress can cause hair loss. The body simply shuts down production of hair during periods of stress in order to devote its energies toward repairing vital body structures. In many cases there is a delay between the actual event and the onset of hair loss. Furthermore, there can be another long delay prior to the return of noticeable hair re-growth. This means that the total hair loss and re-growth cycle can last 6 months or possibly longer when induced by physical or emotional stress. There are some health conditions which may go undetected that can contribute to hair loss -- these include anemia or low blood count and thyroid abnormalities. Both of these conditions can be detected by a simple, inexpensive blood test.

Women may experience some noticeable hair loss in the wake of a major hormonal change. In most cases though, the condition does not become terribly advanced. Post pregnancy hormone conditions can be a cause of this type of hair loss as can discontinuation of birth control pills, menopause and menstrual cycles. In most cases though, the condition is temporary. Many women discover that their hair will grow back to its former luster within a year.