It is estimated that about 30 million women in America experience female hair loss. Dermatologists report that female hair loss can begin as young as 15 years old. For many women, their hair is their pride and joy. In the New Testament, a woman’s hair is referred to as “her crown”. Female hair loss is seen as a loss of identity and a loss of femininity. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that more women than ever are going bald.

Reasons for Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition (androgenic alopecia) once thought to affect only men. It is now known that women can also inherit this condition. Hair loss can begin in the around the mid twenties to thirties and is a gradual process, often with a receding hairline and thinning in the crown of the head.

Dermatologists now believe that this happen in women far less than previously thought. Some even do not like using the words “male pattern baldness” and “woman” in the same sentence, as they believe we still need to find the hormones that control woman’ hair growth. Why doesn’t a woman have a receding hair line or bald spots like men who have male pattern baldness? We do not know.

What You can Do

Rogaine and Monoxidil offer hope to both men and women with thinning hair. Daily use of these prescription drugs can prevent further hair loss and restore growth. Women with certain heath conditions should not use these drugs. Only a doctor can prescribe Rogaine and Monoxidil and other causes for hair loss should be ruled out.

Another treatment for hair loss involves surgery. In male pattern baldness, the sides of the head are typically not affected. A reconstructive surgeon can remove plugs of hair from healthy growth areas and transplant it to thinning areas. The surgery is expensive and there is a risk of infection.

If your hair loss is sudden and the hair is falling out in clumps, you should see your doctor immediately. This type of hair loss can be a symptom of a serious health problem. Most hair loss is gradual, but the health of hair and nails can be a reflection of overall physical health.

You can’t get proper treatment for female hair loss until you get a correct diagnosis. This may take a while, so be patient. You may need to have blood work and a scalp biopsy.