How Common is Female Hair Loss?

Most women are shocked when they first experience hair loss, thinking that it’s very uncommon and something must be wrong. The truth is that many women will experience noticeably thinning hair or balding at some point in their lives, and not all reasons for the hair loss are concerning. Understanding the statistics of hair loss in women and some of the potential causes may put you at ease.

The Statistics

Research shows that up to a third of all women will experience noticeably thinning hair before age 50. Over half of all women will be affected by some form of hair loss after that age. There’s not just one reason behind this common problem that makes diagnosis tricky for some women.

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness is quite common, and it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t experience it themselves or know someone who does. Many are surprised to find that women are just as susceptible to the hereditary condition, although it looks much different. Instead of a receding hairline and baldness, most women with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) experience overall thinning and possibly receding at the temples.

Other Types of Female Hair Loss

FPHL is only one potential cause of hair loss in women. Other underlying issues may not be as common, but could contribute to thinning hair in several ways, depending on the condition.

• Telogen effluvium: when the body experiences trauma due to an illness or even outside stress, it can cause the hair growth cycle to shift to the final shedding stage, all at once.
• Anagen effluvium: this condition is most commonly caused by chemotherapy, where the follicles are poisoned by something that affects their ability to produce healthy hair.
• Alopecia areata: while there is a good prognosis for many patients, an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation and attacking hair follicles could be to blame for hair loss in women.
• Traction alopecia: how you wear your hair can affect hair loss, especially those that pull tightly on the follicles like braids, ponytails and extensions.

Treating Hair Loss in Women

The proper treatment for hair loss will largely depend on the reason for it. However, treatment could include topical or oral medications, changes to your hair care routine and even hair restoration. For skin or medical conditions causing hair loss, it’s best to first consult with a dermatologist.

If you’re ready to do something about your thinning hair, contact Kalos Hair Restoration today. During your consultation, you can bring up your concerns with our experienced team and learn more about your options.