Female pattern baldness is a common issue. In fact, an estimated 50% of women experience significant hair loss at some point in life. This very normal problem can cause self-consciousness and unhappiness with one’s appearance. Fortunately, there are many hair replacement and hair restoration methods that can be used to counteract female pattern baldness. Read on to learn more.

What is Female Pattern Baldness?

Female pattern baldness is a type of hair loss that affects people who are biologically female or assigned female at birth (AFAB). The medical name for the condition is androgenetic alopecia. A certain amount of hair loss is normal and expected in women. In fact, most people lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day on average. However, if the amount of hair you are losing starts to increase or become noticeable, you may be experiencing this condition.

What Causes It?

Genetics are thought to be a major contributing factor when it comes to female pattern baldness. The gene can be inherited from either parent. The condition tends to occur more frequently in women as they reach midlife, though it certainly can occur earlier. It most often begins to develop around menopause, so it is also thought that hormones are a contributing factor.

Other factors that may accelerate this condition include:

• Stress
• Extreme weight loss
• Childbirth
• Aging
• Certain medicines
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Scalp conditions

What Are the Symptoms?

It might be a bit difficult to definitively determine whether you’re dealing with female pattern baldness or another condition. This condition causes the hair’s growing phase to slow down. It also takes much longer for new hair to grow. Hair follicles shrink, which leads to hair thinning. Hair volume may change and become much finer. You may also be noticing an acceleration in breakage.

Female pattern baldness begins at the part. It sometimes then begins to appear across the rest of the head. Temple hair may also start to recede. The condition is usually categorized into three types:

• Type 1: A small amount of thinning occurs around the part.
• Type 2: The part begins to widen and thinning increases around it.
• Type 3: Hair begins to thin all across the head, and the scalp is visible through the hair.

What Can I Do to Treat Female Pattern Baldness?

Female pattern baldness usually causes mild to moderate hair loss. In some cases, treatment is not necessary. However, it can cause many women to become very unhappy with their appearances. In this case, there are treatment options available to restore hair quality or replace hair loss.

Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is always a great option for those experiencing significant hair loss. It is a safe, time-tested procedure that is conducted by a medical hair restoration professional. During a hair transplant for female pattern baldness, small plugs of hair are removed from areas with thick hair. They are then transplanted to areas that are balding. A few procedures might be necessary.

Medicines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved only one medicine to treat female pattern baldness. This medicine, called minoxidil, is applied directly to the scalp. It can help hair grow in about 1 in 4 or 5 women. In most women, it will at least slow or stop hair loss. It is important that you discuss the potential side effects of using this medication with your doctor.

Human Hair Wigs

In some cases, a quality, authentic human hair wig is the best option. Wigs can be made especially for you to mimic your hair’s natural texture and color. They are made from real human hair to prevent the frizzy, artificial look of synthetic hair. A beautiful wig is a great choice for those who are unwilling or unable to undergo a medical procedure or use a medication. They are easy to style and even color like you would your natural hair.

It’s best to work with a hair replacement service to create your wig and develop a care plan that ensure it lasts as long as possible and remains in good shape.

Contact Eldorado

If you are dealing with female pattern baldness and want to restore the look and feel of your hair, contact Eldorado. We offer a range of services related to hair restoration and hair replacement in Baltimore. Schedule a free hair analysis to determine your options, and call (410) 931-3399 to learn more.