Female Pattern Baldness

Female pattern baldness refers to the typical style of hair loss that occurs in women. Similar to male pattern baldness, this can occur in any woman and is due to genetic factors. The pattern refers to the way that hair loss occurs, which is distinctly different from men. Roughly one third of all women will experience some form of female pattern baldness during their life.

What does female pattern baldness look like?

Female pattern baldness will typically start with a widening parting of the hair, or a feeling that the hair does not feel as thick as usual. The hairline does not recede during female pattern baldness, unlike in male pattern baldness. However, the scalp is likely to become more visible.

What causes female hair loss at temples?

There are many potential causes of hair loss in women, including medical conditions, medications, and physical or emotional stress. One of the largest causes of female pattern baldness can be hormonal imbalance as a result of the menopause.

Unlike male pattern baldness, the exact mechanism of androgens effects on the female hair is still unknown.

Is female pattern baldness permanent?

Unfortunately, female pattern baldness is not reversible, and is therefore permanent. Although proper treatment can stop the hair loss, and potentially regrow some of the hair you’ve lost, this can take up to 12 months to start working.

Because female pattern baldness causes the hair follicles to miniaturise, this means that they will never be able to grow hair follicles again and therefore, hair will be unable to grow back.

What is the best treatment for female hair loss?

There are currently no treatments for female pattern baldness. Although there are many medications on the market to treat baldness (e.g. minoxidil, finasteride), none of these are shown to regrow hair and can have very severe side effects.

Read more about hair loss medications →

In certain cases, an FUE hair transplant can be a possibility. The treatment works to restore the appearance of a fuller head of natural looking hair.

Does female pattern baldness happen suddenly?

Female pattern can occur suddenly or develop gradually over time. It is more likely that it will develop slowly over time, rather than occurring rapidly.

If female pattern baldness is occurring suddenly, there is usually a larger cause behind this. Sudden-onset causes include illness, diet, medications, and childbirth. These can all cause large hormonal changes to the body, as well as intense stress, which can trigger underlying hair loss in those who are already predisposed to it.

Can a woman inherit baldness from her father?

Predisposition to hair loss is passed down from parents to their children, and many different genes are involved. These genes can be inherited from either parent, either the mother or father. If close relatives, such as the mother or father, have experienced hair loss then the likelihood is a lot higher.