What is Female pattern hair loss baldness?

Don’t think hair loss or baldness is only men’s hair problem. It’s also women’s problem. Approximately 20 million American women also suffer from hair loss.

Female pattern hair loss or baldness (Alopecia in women) is a typical pattern of hair loss in women caused by hormones, aging, and genes.



When hair falls, new hair grows in that place naturally. But baldness occurs when hair falls out but new hair does not grow in its place. The cause of the failure to grow new hair in female pattern baldness is not well understood. But some features like the following are considered.

• Genetic predisposition
• Aging, and
• Levels of endocrine hormones (particularly androgens, the male sex hormones).
• After the birth of a child
• Around menopause
• After a total hysterectomy
• Medications
• Underactive thyroid
• Vitamin deficiency
• Certain skin diseases
• Hormonal abnormalities
• Iron deficiency

What types of hair loss occurred in women?

Normally the following hair loss occurred in women other than female pattern baldness
• Breaking of hair (from such things as styling treatments and twisting or pulling of hair)
• Patchy areas of total hair loss (alopecia areata -- an immune disorder causing temporary hair loss)
• Temporary shedding of hair (telogen effluvium)

The most common types of baldness in women are:

1. Diffuse hair loss, in which hair loss is evident all over the scalp, resulting in decreased hair density, coverage and volume of hair throughout
2. Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp but not involving the frontal hairline.
3. Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp, involving and sometimes breaching the frontal hairline.

If you are a woman who is worried about hair loss or baldness you should consult a physician hair restoration specialist for an evaluation and diagnosis and proper treatment.

Learn More about Female Hair Loss & Pattern Baldness in Women on International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery