Female Baldness

Female baldness is considered unusual or abnormal in our society, even though the American Academy of Dermatology tells us that more than 30 million women in the U.S. alone deal with some degree of female hair loss.

Women lose their hair for all sorts of reasons- it can simply be a matter of aging, it can be hereditary, it can be a side effect of certain medications, or it can be a result of various medical conditions. Women commonly lose some hair following a pregnancy or during menopause. Despite all of this, female baldness is considered somehow shameful and something to be covered up.

People don’t talk about female hair loss. We see television commercials for hair loss treatments for men, but rarely see commercials for hair loss treatments for women - even though hair loss treatments for women do exist. Instead of seeking treatment, many women simply cover their heads with hats or scarves or buy wigs. Other women withdraw from social situations altogether.

Woman experiencing female hair loss may suffer a loss of self-esteem. They may become isolated and withdrawn from others. They may become anxious and uncomfortable in social situations. They may be self-conscious and hyper-aware of their appearance. Women with female baldness often feel embarrassed about their hair loss.

Women with hair loss should know they are not alone. Hair loss is not their fault and is not something to be ashamed of.

Women should also know that there is treatment available for hair loss. There are a number of treatment options available to them.

Topical Treatments

There are topical solutions, such as Rogaine, that stimulate hair growth. These are effective for men and women. They are a bit messy to apply, and some people don’t like the way they make their hair feel.

Oral Medications

There are oral medications meant to cause hair regrowth. One such medication, Propecia, is effective when used by women, but women must be careful not to become pregnant while taking the medication because serious birth defects can result. In fact, pregnant women should not even handle the tablets.

Hair Transplants

This treatment is done more often for male baldness than for female baldness, because female hair loss tends to occur in a different pattern than in males. Men lose their hair in a large patch on top of their head, which spreads out from there. Women, on the other hand, tend to have thinning hair all over their head.

In a hair transplant, a surgeon takes a “plug” of hair from an area where hair has not thinned and surgically plants it in an area where hair has thinned. This does not stimulate new growth; it simply redistributes hair more evenly over the head. With female baldness, what is needed most of the time is a treatment that will stimulate new hair growth.

Laser Treatments

This is another option. Laser treatments are meant to improve circulation to the scalp and stimulate the hair follicles to cause new hair growth. There is some controversy among experts about whether or not this treatment is very effective.

Natural Treatments

Some women prefer to try natural treatments for baldness. These come in both oral supplements and in topical treatments. They generally contain vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, iron, and zinc, and various herbs and other natural ingredients. Some are more effective than others. You should research natural treatments for their effectiveness before trying them.

Recommended Female Hair Loss Treatment

Please feel free to write to us if you have any questions about baldness in women and the best treatment options available to them.

More than female baldness on our main hair loss in women page

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