All women are tuned in to the state of their crowning glory – their hair. When women discover their hair is gradually thinning out, it can be disturbing and in more extreme cases, a hard knock to self-confidence and self-esteem.
The good news is that male pattern baldness in women rarely produces hair loss as pronounced as that which is experienced by men. Instead of a receding hair line, women with alopecia will tend to find their hair thinning on top of the head. It may be noticeable along a central parting.
Hair loss in women can also be caused by other things, from disease to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, but these are not classified as female pattern baldness. Temporary hair loss, for example after illness, surgery or pregnancy, and bald patches (a condition known as alopecia areata) are also not typical female pattern alopecia.
What exactly causes female pattern hair loss? The mechanism is simple. Hair that dies naturally – as happens to all hair after about six years maximum – simply does not grow back. The reasons are not well understood, but it seems to be a result of normal ageing.
Hormones are one influence on human hair growth. Male baldness is directly linked to steroid hormones called androgens, and particularly dihydrotestosterone, which is also present in women. At menopause, fluctuating hormone levels in women may cause thinning of head hair at the same time as hair elsewhere on the body becomes coarser.
Treatments for female pattern baldness are sadly few and far between. Scientists have established that in alopecia the hair follicles are not dead, but under-functioning. Unfortunately, research has not yet revealed how to switch them back on to their previous state.
There is one drug treatment with proven effectiveness in restoring thinning hair. Minoxidil is a drug originally used to treat high blood pressure that was shown to promote hair growth. A Minoxidil liquid or foam applied to the scalp can help reverse female pattern baldness. The way it works is not fully understood. For women a 2% solution is prescribed, whereas men are given a more potent 5% preparation.
Though Minoxidil can be effective, it can also cause some complications, including unwanted hair growth and thickening elsewhere. Allergies have been reported, with skin irritation or more serious reactions. Ironically, Minoxidil can sometimes worsen hair loss, apparently as the hair follicles reawaken. Pet owners should be aware that it is highly toxic to cats.
Few other solutions are available. Spironolactone is a drug that treats excess androgen levels in women but it is not approved for use as a hair loss treatment because it increases blood potassium levels that can be unsuitable for some people. Hair transplants are expensive but can be an effective and permanent solution.
Until the secrets of hair growth are revealed, most women will have to adapt to thinning hair, or make use of the many excellent hair aids, including wigs, on the market today.
