Female pattern baldness can be seen from teenage years and also after menopause. Though hair fall is not continuous, but it progresses in case of severity.
Female pattern baldness (FPB) is also called as androgenetic alopecia (AGA). After male pattern hair loss, the most common type of hair loss is female pattern hair loss. Though it is frequent it is not severe or noticed as male pattern baldness because it does not continue till total baldness.
Hair loss has severe impact on woman’s personality as hair plays a crucial role in woman’s looks. Thick, shiny and long hair improves and represents her beauty.
Hair record
About 10% of women face hair loss before menopause and around 40% of women face hair loss between ages 50 to 60 years i.e. after menopause.
Hair loss ahs severe impact on woman’s social and psychological behaviour, it leads to lack of self confidence, anxiety, depression and tormenting that they are not attractive anymore.
More than 80% of women believe that men only like and give importance to women with shiny and long hair.
Signs of hair loss
- Slow hair loss, which leads to loss of thickness in long run.
- You can see your hair on your comb, on your pillow, on floor and so on.
- Thinner hair strands than before
- Less volume hair
- Thin ponytail or plate
- Less volume bun
- Gaps on head which may not be covered when you leave your hair.
- Notice significant thinning on sides of the head
- Regarding hair thinning patterns women have special relationship with their mother, siblings and also with other family members.
Causes of hair loss
- Hormonal imbalance plays a crucial role in female pattern baldness just as in male pattern baldness. Few disorders like ovarian cysts (PCOS), menopause and others act as triggers in female pattern baldness.
- Low level of oestrogen which is also treated as hair protective female hormone also triggers hair loss. Low levels of oestrogen hormone mean increase in male hormone testosterone which further leads to loss of hair.
- The favourable part is that in women DHT sensitive hair follicles are spread all over the scalp which don’t go bald but women tend to lose hair constantly.
- But most importantly female pattern hair loss runs in family i.e. it is genetics.
Diagnosis
Female pattern baldness is evaluated by few lab tests. But in menopause, female pattern baldness is common and there is no need for any diagnosis. Family history of baldness is also one of the ways to know the cause of FPB.
In women with PCOS few other factors like abnormal hair growth on face, body and acne are taken into consideration along with irregular menstruation.
Few other factors based on which FPB is diagnosed include
- Abnormal menstruation
- Hair loss patterns
- Levels of androgen hormone
- USG (ultrasonography)
- Tips to control hair loss
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption which may trigger hair loss
- Include natural DHT inhibiting foods like soya, green tea, roasted sesame seeds in diet which controls hair loss
- Include protein rich foods in diet like milk and milk products, pulses and legumes which are very beneficial for hair growth.
- Include biotin rich foods in diet like cauliflower, rice bran, peanuts and mushrooms which helps in hair growth.
- Avoid DHT activator foods like red meat which further worsens hair loss.
Homeopathy for female pattern baldness
Homeopathy for female pattern baldness works effectively in controlling hair loss and also helps in hair regrowth. Homeopathy controls hair loss by treating underlying disorders like PCOS, stress and so on. Homeopathy treatment is prescribed based on symptoms, family history and also based on theory of individualization. Homeopathic remedies for hair loss are safe, side effects free and suitable for all age groups.
