What is the difference between female pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss?

Hair loss is a huge subject with many different types, as well as a number of different causes. There is a lot of confusion about the difference between female pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. Today we’re going to clear this confusion up and set you straight on the differences.

What is female pattern baldness?

Androgenetic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss in women and men is often called Female pattern baldness or in the male form, male pattern baldness. Androgenetic alopecia causes an inherited sensitivity to the effects male hormones have on the scalp and hair follicles. This can cause hair to thin in the same way that it does with men.

Female pattern baldness happens due to hair follicles shrinking due to the effects of androgenetic hormones. The two hormones involved are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The hormones break down the hair growth cycle by shortening the growth phase of the hair. However, the shedding phase remains the same – which causes hair to fall out faster than it can grow.

For most women who suffer from androgenetic alopecia, it is most common to happen after the menopause, however, for some, it can occur at a younger age. Hair loss due to male pattern baldness differs for women, they rarely develop a receding hairline and do not develop the same pattern baldness or complete baldness that men do. The hair loss is usually across the whole scalp and is uniform with the thinning rarely resulting in baldness.

At current, there is no cure for androgenetic alopecia. There are however hair restoration treatments available such as FUE hair transplants that can work towards restoring the appearance of a full head of hair.

What is female pattern hair loss?

In most cases, female pattern hair loss is another name for female pattern hair baldness. This can cause a lot of confusion when looking at female hair loss. There are three main categories when it comes to female hair loss; androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness), telogen effluvium and non-pattern hair loss.

What is telogen effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that can arise from many different causes including medication use, dietary tendencies and stress. Telogen effluvium is a temporary type of hair loss which usually requires no treatment, a simple change in lifestyle (reducing stress or changing diet) or a change in medication can work towards reversing the hair loss.

Other rarer types of hair loss fall under the category of non-pattern hair loss, this can include compulsive hair pulling (Trichotillomania), alopecia areata, triangular alopecia or scarring alopecia. These types of hair loss can be linked to different factors such as stress or psychological or emotional causes or in the case of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder.

For most, medical examinations are needed to diagnose the root of the problem and then find an effective treatment.

If you would like more information on hair loss or to talk to one of our hair loss specialists, please contact us today for a no obligation consultation.

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