What is Female Hair Loss?
Women's Hair Loss
What is Female Hair Loss?
Female pattern hair loss is more common than many people think, and it often looks very different from male pattern baldness. Here is what it is, how the Ludwig scale grades it, and why the diagnosis should come from a physician.
Key takeaways
- Female pattern hair loss (FPHL), also called androgenetic alopecia, is a thinning or miniaturization of the hair on the top or crown of the head. Some 30 percent of women will experience at least some degree of thinning.
- Women usually do not develop the bald patterns seen in men. Female hair loss is often diffuse thinning all over the scalp, typically mild and gradual, though hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause may speed it up.
- The Ludwig scale sorts female pattern hair loss into three types: general thinning at the center part (Type I), thinning progressing to the crown (Type II), and nearly full hair loss at the crown (Type III).
- Thinning in women is sometimes temporary and can be caused by hormone-related factors such as thyroid conditions, pregnancy, or menopause. Self-diagnosis is often ineffective, so consult a specialist before considering a hair transplant.
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is more common than we think. FPHL is a thinning or miniaturization of the hair on the top or crown of the head. Female pattern hair loss is sometimes referred to as androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia. Because thinning in women can have many causes, an evaluation by a physician is necessary before choosing any treatment.
Self-diagnosis is often ineffective. Women tend to have less obvious patterns of hair loss than men, and non-pattern types of hair loss are more frequent in women than in men. Diagnosis of hair loss in a woman should be made by a trained and experienced physician.
The most likely cause: androgenetic alopecia
In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles. However, women with hair loss due to this cause usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men. Female hair loss occurs in various patterns and is often diffuse rather than bald.
Patterns of female androgenetic alopecia can vary considerably in appearance, but they generally fall into three classes, as depicted in the Ludwig scale below.
How common is female hair loss?
Contrary to popular belief, female hair loss is relatively common. Some 30 percent of women will experience at least some degree of thinning.
How female hair loss differs from male pattern baldness
Female hair loss is not always like male pattern baldness. For one thing, it can look very different. While men tend to get bald spots, often beginning with a receding hairline, women might have neither. Instead, they might experience thinning all over. Female hair loss is typically mild and gradual, although it may be accelerated by hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause.
Although women generally find it easier to conceal hair loss with hair styling techniques, they often suffer more than their male counterparts from the psychological impact of the condition and the societal belief that thinning hair is normal for men but unheard of for women.
Diffuse hair loss presents a different challenge than male pattern baldness, so female hair restoration requires careful diagnosis of the underlying problem as well as the selection of appropriate and effective therapies.
The good news is that Advanced Hair Restoration® can help you determine the cause of your thinning hair and offer real solutions. Imagine not having to disguise your thinning hair with careful combing, styling products, or even hats and wigs!
Free consultation
Find out what is causing your thinning hair
Call Advanced Hair Restoration® today to schedule your free consultation. Consultations are in person, so a hair loss professional can examine your scalp and donor area directly and, if a hair transplant is right for you, map your exact graft count.
The Ludwig Scale
The Ludwig scale can be used to categorize typical hair loss patterns in women. It divides them into three categories and sub-categories.
- Type I (Grade I) shows general thinning at the center part.
- Type II (Grade II) shows thinning progressing to the crown of the head.
- Type III (Grade III) shows nearly full hair loss at the crown.
What causes hair loss in women?
Hair loss in women does not have as clear a cause as male pattern baldness. Women with hair loss often suffer from diffuse thinning all over the scalp rather than in a distinct pattern. This hair thinning is sometimes temporary and can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including:
- Thyroid conditions
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
Where illness or underlying hormonal conditions are not the cause, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) acting on an overabundance of androgen receptors in hair follicles appears to be the culprit in thinning and hair loss in women, as is the case with men. Female hormones are thought to influence the time of onset, severity, and pattern of loss experienced by women.
Before a hair transplant
When considering a hair transplant, women should first consult a specialist to rule out causes such as illness and hormonal influences.
Questions patients ask
Female hair loss questions
What is female pattern hair loss?
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a thinning or miniaturization of the hair on the top or crown of the head. It is sometimes referred to as androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia. In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles.
How is female hair loss different from male pattern baldness?
It can look very different. Men tend to get bald spots, often beginning with a receding hairline, while women might have neither and instead experience thinning all over. Women usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men: their hair loss is often diffuse rather than bald, and typically mild and gradual, although hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause may accelerate it.
What is the Ludwig scale?
The Ludwig scale is used to categorize typical hair loss patterns in women into three types. Type I shows general thinning at the center part, Type II shows thinning progressing to the crown of the head, and Type III shows nearly full hair loss at the crown.
Should women see a specialist before considering a hair transplant?
Yes. Women should first consult a specialist to rule out causes such as illness and hormonal influences. Thinning in women is sometimes temporary and can be tied to hormone-related factors such as thyroid conditions, pregnancy, and menopause. Self-diagnosis is often ineffective, so the diagnosis should be made by a trained and experienced physician.
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Next step
Start with the right diagnosis
Before choosing a treatment or a hair transplant, see a specialist who can rule out causes such as illness and hormonal influences. Consultations with Advanced Hair Restoration® are free and in person, so a hair loss professional can examine your scalp and donor area directly and, if a hair transplant is right for you, map your exact graft count.