Female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, refers to hair loss that impacts women. It is similar to male pattern baldness, except that women can lose their hair in a different pattern than males.
Hair loss in women is normal, especially as one ages. Over two-thirds of women experience hair loss following menopause. Less than 50 percent of women will make it past the age of 65 years with a full head of hair.
Female pattern baldness is genetic and more common after menopause. Therefore, hormones are likely responsible. In case a person notices that they are losing hair, they should consult a doctor who will be able to understand if it is a case of female pattern baldness or another type of hair loss.
The sooner a person receives treatment, the faster they will be able to stop the hair loss and even possibly regrow hair. Vinings Surgery Center, led by board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Colgrove, provides safe and proven cosmetic treatments to patients in Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia, and surrounding communities.
What does Female Pattern Baldness look like?
The hair’s growing phase slows down in the case of female pattern baldness. It also takes a long time for new hair to start growing. The hair follicles constrict, causing the hair that does grow to be finer and thinner. This could cause hair breakage.
Women normally lose 50 to 100 hairs daily, but those will female pattern baldness can lose much more than this number. In men, the loss of hair begins in the front of the head and recedes to the back until they go bald. Women lose hair all over their heads, beginning at their part line. The hair at the temples may recede, as well.
The likelihood of women going completely bald is less, but they may experience significant hair thinning. Female pattern baldness is clinically categorized as:
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- Type I: A small amount of hair thinning beginning around the hair part
- Type II: Widening of the part and increased thinning in this area
- Type III: Thinning all over the head, with a see-through area at the top of the scalp
Can Genetics lead to Female Pattern Baldness?
Hair loss is passed down from parents to their offspring, and various genes are involved. A person can inherit these genes from either parent. An individual is more likely to have female pattern baldness if their mother, father, or other close relatives have suffered from hair loss.
Is it Reversible?
Female pattern baldness is not reversible, but proper treatment can halt hair loss and possibly help regrow some of the lost hair. The treatments can take up to one year to start working. The patient will need long-term treatment to avoid losing their hair again.
Treatment for Female Pattern Baldness
People with female pattern baldness may be able to hide the hair loss initially by adopting a new hairstyle. But eventually, they may have significant thinning at the top of their scalp, which cannot be hidden.
Early diagnosis is recommended as it can help the patient get on a treatment plan and potentially minimize hair loss. The treatment plan will likely comprise one or more therapies approved for the treatment of hair loss.
is an innovative and one of the most promising female alopecia treatments.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Robert Colgrove receives patients from Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia, and nearby areas for advanced cosmetic treatments.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Board Certified Atlanta Plastic Surgeon, Robert A. Colgrove, Jr., M.D. at Vinings Surgery Center please visit us at www.colgrove.com
Vinings Surgery Center is taking patients from Greater Atlanta Georgia, Buckhead, Marietta, Roswell, Dunwoody and surrounding areas.