Understanding Female Pattern Baldness

When most people think of baldness, they tend to think of the most common type of baldness, namely, male pattern baldness. This is no surprise, since up to half of men over the age of 50 will be affected by some degree of balding or hair loss in Palo Alto during their lifetime.

However, what many people don’t realize is that baldness doesn’t just affect men. In fact, in the post-menopausal years, some degree of hair loss in Palo Alto and elsewhere tends to be even more common than it is for men. While women are much less likely to end up completely bald as a result of female pattern baldness, most can count on significant thinning, especially in their later years.

As such, many females who are experiencing hair loss may want to consider the possibility of a hair transplant surgery in Palo Alto in order to restore their appearance to the way it was before their baldness started occurring. Depending on the specific circumstances, this can be a very successful way to reverse the effects of female pattern baldness either partially or completely.

What Exactly is Female Pattern Baldness?

The official term for female pattern baldness is androgenetic alopecia. Much like the name implies, whether females tend to experience balding they age and the degree of balding that they experience is largely determined by hereditary and genetic factors that they have little to no control over. Much like male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness can also be attributed to high levels of hormones, most likely androgens.

As such, women who have family members who have suffered from female pattern baldness, especially close genetic connections like a mother, grandmother or sister are also much more likely to experience female pattern baldness themselves as they grow older. However, female pattern baldness can also be caused by an underlying condition like an endocrine-related disease. If baldness symptoms present themselves along with other hormonal related side-effects like acne or irregular periods, women should schedule a visit with their doctor to ensure that there is nothing else causing the baldness.

While female pattern baldness is very similar to male pattern baldness in most respects, it often results in a different pattern of hair loss in Palo Alto, or anywhere else for that matter. Keep in mind that up to two thirds of women will experience some degree of female pattern balding in their lifetimes, and thus it is a perfectly normal thing to go through. That said, anybody who notices that they are experiencing hair loss in Palo Alto should not assume that it is a result of female pattern baldness before talking to a dermatologist who can give them a full and proper diagnosis.

While the causes of female pattern baldness are not completely known, the most likely culprit is hereditary hormonal changes. That said, lifestyle choices like smoking tobacco will help increase the risk of developing female pattern baldness, maybe even at a younger age. Low levels of iron tend to be particularly common in females and can also be a major contributor when it comes to thinning or baldness, and sometimes supplements can help to stop baldness from further developing.

Female pattern baldness does not have any side effects and will not affect overall health or quality of life. However, it can have a negative effect on self-esteem and confidence. The sooner that female pattern baldness is detected, the better the chances that it can be successfully nipped in the bud and successfully treated, so it is important to schedule a visit with a dermatologist at the first signs of thinning or balding.

What to Look For?

In order to ensure that it is swiftly treated, it is important to know how to recognize the signs of female pattern baldness. When females begin to experience balding, the actual follicles will shrink leading to thinning and slower growth rates. Another common side-effect to watch out for is easy breakage.

This type of hair loss in Palo Alto will typically not be condensed in any particular area of the head, but rather occur gradually across the entire scalp. However, it is common to experience thinning particularly around the temples, and this is indeed one of the easiest ways to spot female pattern baldness.

Female baldness can be divided into three subgroups, with Type I being the least serious, mostly involving a small amount of thinning and loss around the area of the part. With Type II, the part itself will begin to become wider and there will be even more thinning around this area. Type III is the most serious subtype of female pattern baldness, and typically involves thinning across the scalp and a see-through appearance around the top of the scalp.

Testing is generally not needed to diagnose female pattern baldness unless another type of baldness or an underlying condition is suspected, and a diagnosis can be obtained from either a doctor or a dermatologist. From here, they can suggest possible treatment options like a robotic hair transplant in Palo Alto to stop or even reverse some of the effects of the baldness so that women can regain their confidence in their appearance. While female pattern baldness is not reversible, the sooner it can be detected, the more likely that it can be successfully treated.

Most people will start to notice the early signs of female pattern baldness around midlife, usually in their forties or fifties, but it can also affect younger adults as well. In rare cases, some females might start developing baldness in their twenties.

The Takeaway

When it comes to dealing with female pattern baldness, proper dermatological treatment is the key to successfully managing the condition.

There are certain types of treatments and medications available that may help women address the baldness before the problem gets worse, and there is also the option of a hair transplant in Palo Alto to help anybody suffering from female pattern baldness to regain their appearance, self-esteem and confidence.

Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.

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