Is pattern balding in women rare?

Every person will shed hairs each day, however if bald patches occur or extreme thinning happens this could be due to female pattern baldness. Female pattern baldness is not as common as male pattern baldness, but it does happen more than you may think. Possible factors for female pattern baldness include genetics, medications, certain health conditions and using tight hair styles that pull on the hair. Most females will shed around 50- 100 hairs each day and new hair will grow in place of these hairs. With female pattern balding new hairs will not be replaced by new hairs.

Let’s have a look at what can cause female pattern baldness and how this is treated and prevented.

What is female pattern baldness?

This is hair loss that affects women, the medical term is androgenetic alopecia. Female pattern baldness is more noticeable in the volume of the hair. Partings usually can sometimes feel wider, and their hair does not eel as thick as usual. The difference between male and female pattern baldness is that the hair doesn’t usually recede.

Causes of female pattern baldness:

There are a number of factors that can cause female pattern baldness these include;

• Genetics – The pattern baldness gene can be inherited from either parent; it is more common to come about during midlife. Menopause can sometimes trigger the female pattern baldness gene.
• Medication – Certain medications can trigger pattern baldness
• Autoimmune disease – Alopecia areata is a rare autoimmune disease that will attack the hair follicles
• Illness – Significant infections and illness can sometimes cause pattern baldness in females
• Traction alopecia – This is from wearing the hair in hair styles that are to tight and put pressure on your head

There are a few ways to look at preventing female patten baldness such as the following;

• Eat a vitamin rich diet to ensure you are not lacking iron or essential vitamins in your diet
• Try to use minimal heat and harsh treatments such as bleaching and perming on your hair
• Protect the head by using a hat especially in the sun
• Use a comb when hair is wet and avoid brushing the hair when it is wet also

Female patten baldness can be upsetting and often ointments and medicines will not make to much difference to the thinning of the hair. If you are suffering with female pattern baldness then speak to one of our friendly experts about how we can help.