Androgenic (Andro-genetic) Alopecia
This is the most common cause of hair thinning and loss in women. It is also known as Female Pattern Hair Loss, or FPHL. Up to 50 % of women have some degree of this in their lifetime. It certainly is more common as women age, particularly after menopause, but it can start as early as the teenage years. We know that it tends to run in families but sometimes there is no family history. Inheritance can be from either the mother’s or father’s family. We know that hormones play a role in this type of hair loss, especially the “androgenic” hormones such as testosterone. The hair loss is typically more pronounced in the frontal areas of the scalp. Over time the hair shaft gets thinner in a process known as “miniaturization.” Eventually if not treated, the affected hair will continue to get smaller and disappear completely