Female Pattern Baldness

FPHL is a common balding pattern in females, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Around 40% of women by the age of 50 show profuse signs of hair loss.

In FPHL, there is a diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp due to enhanced hair shedding or conspicuous reduction in hair volume, or both. While it is normal to lose up to 50-90 hairs a day, androgenetic alopecia should not be confused with telogen effluvium.

FPHL has strong links to hereditary traits although the mode of inheritance is being researched upon. There are many genes that contribute to this condition, and they can be inherited from either of the parents or both.

Currently, it has not been confirmed if androgens play a defining role in FPHL, although the role of androgens in male pattern baldness has been confirmed. The role played by estrogen in balding is uncertain, too. Although FPHL is a more common phenomenon in women after the menopause, laboratory experiments, however, have suggested that estrogens may stimulate hair growth.

Although FPHL can affect women of any age group, it occurs more commonly after the menopause. The hair loss process does not follow any regular, pre-defined pattern. It is not uncommon to have an accelerated phase of hair loss for about 3 to 6 months, with the following periods of stability lasting 6 to 18 months.

After having a thorough check-up at our clinic, your concerned doctor might advise you to go for blood tests of male and female hormones, as well as thyroid function. After having the confirmatory reports of the tests, your concerned doctor can choose a further medical course.

For more information and queries, feel free to contact us.