Women's Hair Loss

Society may mock men suffering from baldness, but at least it is tolerated. However a woman suffering from baldness is just not acceptable by society.

Until people can actually accept one another as they are and not judge them by their looks, then we shall always have the problem, with bald women being virtually treated as outcasts.

For a woman hair loss can be devastating, in our society hair is regarded as a symbol of beauty and desirability, without hair some women feel complete failures and the effects can be disastrous. Hair loss can be seen to some women as losing their femininity. 

Baldness occurs when the hair falls out but a new hair does not grow in its place. The cause of the failure to grow a new hair is not well understood, but it is associated with genetic predisposition, aging, and levels of endocrine hormones.

Changes in the levels of the androgens can affect hair production. For example, after the hormonal changes of menopause, many women find that the hair on the head is thinned, while facial hair is coarser.

Although new hair is not produced, the follicle remains alive, suggesting the possibility of new hair growth.

Genetic hair loss and moult or increased hair shedding (chronic telogen effluvium), accounts for by far the majority of all hair loss complaints in women - up 95% in fact before menopause.

Unlike men who tend to lose a lot of hair in particular areas, like the temples and crown - Male pattern baldness - women are more likely to thin diffusely from behind the front hairline to the crown.

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia or baldness. This is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top and sides of the head.

It affects approximately one-third of all susceptible women, but is most commonly seen after menopause, although it may begin as early as puberty.

Normal hair fall is approximately 100-125 hairs per day. fortunately, these hairs are replaced. True hair loss occurs when lost hairs are not regrown or when the daily hair shed exceeds 125 hairs. Genetically, hair loss can come from either parent's side of the family.

Women's Hair loss