Know more about Female Pattern Baldness

Female pattern baldness is becoming one of the major problems in women. This disease causes the women to have baldness in a bit similar pattern as men have in male pattern baldness and is a serious problem with many women. The problem develops from various factors. The main causal factor is the production of androgenetic hormones and its effect on hair follicles.

Female Pattern Hair Loss Characteristics differ from woman to woman. In some cases you will find thinning of hair on the top of the scalp. While In other cases women have thinning of hair and patches of greater scalp hair loss. You may even experience hair loss from the front of the scalp to mid-scalp.

Apart from female pattern baldness, you will also find women suffering from sudden hair loss or localized hair loss. The causes of this unexpected hair loss include Alopecia Areata, Traction Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Telogen Effluvium, etc.

There are sudden hair loss there is generalized thinning over all parts of the scalp. But you know? There will be only hair cutting, but no hair fall.

In Telogen Effluvium your hair will move into a resting, non-growth stage on the scalp and shed after few months.

There are some other Causes of Female Hair Loss which includes anemia, thyroid dysfunction, endocrine problems, gynecological conditions like ovarian tumors, connective tissue disease like Lupus, surgical procedures, crash diets and emotional stress.

And you know, sometimes some medications also cause sudden hair loss amongst women. For instance oral contraceptives, thyroid medication, blood pressure medication, mood enhancing medicines and anti-depressants, cholesterol lowering medications and drugs, etc.

There are various factors of female pattern baldness among women. Pattern baldness however is the most common cause of female hair loss. Affecting 30 to 40 percent of women, it is genetic transmitted condition that is medically known as androgen tic alopecia.

Androgen tic alopecia/female pattern baldness is diagnosed in women by visual inspection of the scalp. A family history of female baldness is rather generally suggestive of androgen tic alopecia.

Diagnosis of pattern baldness in males is more direct than that in females. This is because of somewhat diffused pattern of female hair loss. The scalp in most cases should be Look over carefully for signs of other hair disease such as scarring or follicular plugging etc. The dermatologist also needs to convention female hair loss problems, such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or iron deficiency. A confirmed diagnosis for the disease is made only if the woman does not have a history of taking medications like anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, beta blockers, and antidepressants which can have hair loss as one of their side effects.

No extensive testing is usually required for diagnosis accept in some cases where the function of androgen is suspected. Circumstances such as menstrual irregularities, acne, and excess hair growth (hirsutism) in women are caused by androgen excess and hair loss in such cases is a symptom instead than the disease.

As a disease the female pattern baldness does have a tremendous psychosocial effect on women; they may suffer from loss of self regard and confidence. The best solution here is to use a hair piece or prosthesis.

Female pattern baldness treatments with medication are helpful in the initial levels of the disease (Ludwig I and II). Minoxidil as topical solution is best treatment for female hair loss. It is applied on the scalp using a dropper or a pump spray devise and spread by fingers on the impacted areas. Women using minoxidil must have a normal, healthy scalp since cuts or openings can allow the solution to be absorbed into the bloodstream to have increased heart rate.

Minoxidil must be used twice a day for at least four months before the initial response to hair loss baldness treatment can be approximated. If it is efficient, a woman begins to shed less hair within two months after commencing the treatment. By four to eight months hair starts to grow. If the medicine is discontinued in between the benefits achieved so far all gone. The effects of minoxidil usually stabilize after 12 to 18 months of use. Long term benefits are achieved only after the treatment is continued indefinitely.

Studies have shown that 30 to 40 percent of women attain significant results with minoxidil. Minoxidil causes few side effects. Women with a history of heart disease can have symptoms such as an increased heart rate. Edema or swelling in the hands or feet, or weight gain is also detected. Four percent of women treated with 5 percent minoxidil develop increased facial hair.

There is always a relation between female hair loss and hormones. The course of baldness treatment is not as straightforward as mentioned above if the woman is found to have an increased level of androgen hormones. After the endocrine consultation is accepted, she may be put on a combination therapy.

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ordinance of menses and control of hyperinsulinemia can also function as hair loss restoration treatment. This treatment is also able to reverse FPHL (Female pattern Hail loss) to some extent. Treatments like women lifestyle alterations (balanced weight loss and exercise, stopping of hormone therapy or birth control medicines may also be sufficient to induce the reversal.

There are reports that combination therapy ever gives enhanced benefits. Hair loss baldness treatment with 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate and 5% topical minoxidil are found to be superior to minoxidil alone.

If the treatment with minoxidil is not effectual after one year, anti androgen therapy for women gives the best results. Spironolactone blocks the action of the hormone aldosterone, the medicine has presented some promise as one of the best baldness treatments in women with hyperandrogenism. Nine months or more may be required for the hair loss restoration treatment before a benefit is appreciated.

For women with extensive hair loss (Ludwig stage III) the best alternative is to go for hair transplantation surgery. The procedure involves the follicular hair transplants — healthy hair follicles from the area covered with hair are transplanted to the bald area. The results observed with this treatment are very encouraging.

Where to get more information on female pattern baldness?

A physician who specializes in surgery that you may choose for your hair transplant surgery will be able to provide you more information. But before you make up your mind for the surgery you can have an all round information about female pattern baldness and the cost of hair transplantation. I would like to recommend www.femalepatternbaldness.com, to get some reliable information.