Female Pattern Baldness

Q. WHat is female pattern baldness?

A.Female pattern baldness is a distinctive form of baldness characterised by sparseness or thinning of hair on the scalp that follows in a specific pattern due to hypersensitivity to the male sex hormone – Testosterone. It coiuld be beacuse of an underlying conditon that increases the level of testosterone in the body or hypersensitivity to normal levels of testosterone.This hormone acts on the root of follicles causing a gradual shrinking, (miniaturization), and finally death of these follicles.

Q. How does a female pattern baldness appear in women ?

A.In women, the first signs of female pattern baldness may be a widening partition or a sparseness in the crown area of the scalp. Although the scalp may be visible, the hairline usually does not recede.

It is important to eliminate all causes of hair loss like nutritional, hormonal or others before labelling it as female pattern baldness.

Q. How is female pattern baldness treated?

A.Treatment for female pattern baldness is aimed to prevent future hair loss and cause regrowth of hair. In most cases, long-term treatment is needed to prevent hair loss from recurring.

The treatments offered depend on the stage of hair loss.

Female pattern baldness is generally managed with using a hair spray/gel generally at night, an oral medicne which is an anti-testosterone, any nutritional deficit managed with hair nutrient medicine. A Hair mesotherapy or PRP may be added to arrest initial hair loss or initiate hair regrowth. For Late stages, hair transplant becomes the only option.