Female Baldness

Women often suffer extreme psychological effects as a result of female baldness. While society is much more accepting of a bald man than a bald woman, baldness and hair loss for anyone can be traumatic. In today’s society, a luxurious, thick head of hair, particularly in women, is associated with physical beauty. As a result, women suffering from female baldness tend to also suffer from depression, low-self esteem, and a variety of stress-related disorders. Compounding the problem is the fact that the cause of female baldness is not as easily discernible as it is in men.
 
Two-thirds of all women will experience some level of female baldness and hair loss at some point in their lives. In fact, according to the American Hair Loss Association, women represent forty percent of all hair loss sufferers. Unlike men, women usually experience an overall thinning of the hair, and not the typical male pattern baldness seen in men. Hair loss and female baldness can occur in women for a variety of reasons such as hair styling treatments, hormones, pregnancy, medications and a variety of medical conditions. Whatever the causes of female baldness, diagnosis should be made by a qualified, trained professional.

CAUSES OF FEMALE BALDNESS

The cause of female baldness can be associated with a variety of medical, genetic, environmental, physical and hormonal factors. Following are some common causes of female baldness and hair loss.

Androgenia Alopecia: Also known as female pattern baldness, androgenic alopecia is believed to be caused by an abnormal production of androgenetic hormones, which is the same underlying cause of male pattern baldness. Alopecia effects approximately 15 to 20 percent of the American female population.
Telogen Effluvium: This condition occurs after a traumatic or stressful event such as surgery or child birth.  Telogen Effluvium occurs when hair in the growing phase suddenly shifts into the shedding phase.
Medications: Prescription drugs can also cause temporary hair shedding. Blood thinners and some arthritis and acne drugs are common culprits.
Nutrition: Nutritional deficiencies, particularly when it effects protein levels, can cause significant hair loss.  Crash diets, malnutrition, and vegetarian diets lacking in sufficient protein can result in hair loss.
Disease: Many diseases and medical conditions can result in hair loss, such as Graves Disease.
Traction alopecia: Traction alopecia can occur from certain styling methods such as tight braids, corn rows and tightly pulled ponytails that cause damage to the hair follicles.
Hormonal: Hormonal Changes after pregnancy, menopause, and effects from birth control pills can also cause hair loss and female baldness.

TREATMENT

Treatment of female baldness can be as complicated a process as diagnosis. Whatever the cause of female baldness and hair loss, the treatment method should be determined by a trained, qualified professional, as misdiagnosis can be very costly.