Studies show that alopecia is not a male-only issue. Many women are also affected by some form of baldness and are gradually losing hair.
Factors such as genetics can lead to similar results in women and men, however, there are also notable differences when it comes to treating this condition, including the effectiveness of hair loss treatments.
Female Alopecia vs. Male Alopecia
The most common cause of hair loss in men is male pattern baldness. This is a hereditary factor that begins at the top of the forehead and continues with “receding hairline,” which leaves an area of little or no hair density in a ‘U’ shape around the back of the head.
In women the condition is called female pattern baldness and is mainly seen on the top of the head. This process occurs gradually and is therefore less noticeable than male pattern baldness. Complete baldness of the head occurs in few cases, while in men total baldness has a high probability.
The physiology of hair loss
Hair has a three-phase cycle; however, each hair evolves differently from the surrounding hairs, as the follicles are independent. Nevertheless, the phases are the same for everyone:
- Most people’s follicles are in the stage known as the anagen phase, in which the follicles originate hair strands. Each hair follicle remains in this stage for 2 to 8 years.
- The hair follicles enter the catagen stage and during this period, they begin to shrink. This normally lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Only 1% to 2% of the hair is in this stage.
- The last stage is the telogen stage also known as the resting period. About 10-15% of your follicles should be in this stage and it lasts 2-4 months.
The hair starts to become thinner as a result of follicle shrinkage, i.e. the size of the follicle makes the hair strand thinner. In most cases, over time, the hair follicle shrinks until it disappears completely.
Causes of alopecia
The causes of hair loss in women are very different from those in men. Most of them are hormonal in nature, such as: polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, aging, pregnancy, medications such as oral contraceptives, etc.
There are also common causes including fungal infection, stress or sudden hair loss.
Treatment for female hair growth
There are various medications and hair treatments that stimulate hair growth. However, it should be noted that some treatments may be less effective in women than in men. Some hair treatments that stimulate hair growth and strengthen hair may include:
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
In the case of Minoxidil and Finasteride, they can be given to women at lower levels than to men. Both products have shown interesting results, but are also questioned for some side effects.
It is important that before starting any treatment for hair loss you visit an alopecia specialist.