Female Hair Loss Causes

Female hair loss causes

The female hair loss causesin women are more complex than men. Hair loss might be down to diet, hormonal or genetic issues, or the result of illness or disease. Hair loss in women needs to be investigated by a specialist. Although female hair transplants are usually successful, other causes and treatments should also be investigated for prevention of further hair loss.

Because of this, it’s important that women see a doctor to diagnose the condition and, if necessary, investigate the cause. Once diagnosis has been made, we will know what we are working with. We can then design a programme of treatment accordingly. For female hair loss, we generally recommend that you visit your GP first.

Westminster Clinic will shortly be offering a specialist female hair loss package, including full consultation and review, blood tests and initial treatments.

The following blood tests will exclude most diseases that can cause female hair loss in women:

Female bloods download form

Once other causes of hair loss have been investigated, it is found that many women suffer Female Pattern Baldness. Also known as FPB or Ludwig and Savin patterns of female hair loss. These patterns of female hair loss consist of a well preserved hair line but with an oval patch of hair thinning on the top.

This has different genetics to Male Pattern Baldness but can also be treated by hair transplants and sometimes medication too. It is not uncommon (approximately 3% of women suffer this and it runs in families, affecting mothers and daughters). But it sadly isn’t realised that treatment is available. Some researchers believe that men can also inherit this type (FPB) of female hair loss too. Many women struggle with complex hair styling options, scarves, wigs and camouflage products when hair transplants or medication may be the answer.

Female hair line advancement

It is common for us to see women for female hairline advancement because they’ve always had a high hairline. This is not due to hair loss but is just their genetic pattern (Amanda Holden for example). It is perfectly normal and just simple genetic variation, however, many women are very distressed by it. It does look a bit like male pattern hair loss (particularly temple loss) and can give a masculine look sometimes and so women do try to hide it with fringes, scarves or more elaborate hair cuts. High female hair lines can be treated very successfully with hair transplants however – hair transplant information.

Male pattern hair loss in women

In addition, women can suffer Male Pattern Hair loss ( Androgenetic, MPB, hair loss). Women can either genetically be more susceptible to normal amounts of testosterone that all women produce or, some illnesses can produce higher male hormone concentrations i.e PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome (symptoms include facial hirsutism but temple hair thinning), as well as after the menopause. This can also be treated by hair transplantation although it is useful to see if the condition can be stabilised first with anti androgen medication.

Diet can be a cause of female hair loss, particularly for women (and some men) as keeping slim is fashionable. The problem is, low calorie or “faddy” diets often lack important nutrients. In the long term, this is generally unhealthy but in the short term, can cause poor hair growth or even shedding of the hair. Even if supplements are taken, the simple shortage of calories leads to a reduction in hair production. This is characteristic in anorexia nervosa where the hair loss becomes like wispy hair.

Iron is probably the commonest deficiency, as women lose iron during menustration and if sufficient iron isn’t eaten to replace it, body stores will eventually be used up. Most meat eaters can probably obtain enough but those who are vegetarian or only occasional meat/fish eaters, do need to be more careful about their food choices/and take supplements.

Westminster Clinic can help you in a number of ways, whether it’s supplements, medication or female hair transplants. Please phone or email for more information and to book a consultation.