Are you also experiencing hair loss in some areas? Let's learn about Female Pattern Baldness!

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that your hair is thinner than before, or that the top of your head is bald? You may have noticed that there are more hairs falling out than usual, such as on your comb, on the bathroom floor, or on your pillowcase. This is something that brings a lot of sadness and anxiety to many women. Today we are going to talk about the hair loss that is seen in these women, a condition called ' Female Pattern Baldness '.

What is Female Pattern Baldness?

Simply put, this is the name given to the hair loss on the top of the head in women. Doctors also call it 'Female Pattern Hair Loss', and another scientific name is 'Androgenic Alopecia'. Don't be surprised, the same name for baldness in men is 'Androgenic Alopecia'. However, it affects women differently than it affects men. The important thing is that when hair is lost in this way, hair grows back very slowly, if not at all, without treatment.

What are the stages of this condition?

This hair loss does not happen all at once. It increases gradually. According to the 'Sinclair scale', there are 5 main stages of this:

• Stage 1: There's not much hair loss at this point. You might not even realize it.
• Stage 2: A small gap, a void, becomes visible where the head is parted in the middle (where we draw the line).
• Stage 3: The middle part gets a little bigger. And the hair on both sides of the part looks like it's thinning.
• Stage 4: The front of the head becomes flat, with patches of hair becoming bare and balding.
• Stage 5: This is the most severe stage. The hair may have gone far up the head.

Think about it, maybe you just feel like you're losing a little hair at first and don't care. But it's when your hairline gradually starts to widen and you feel like your hair is getting thinner that many people start to look into this.

Can't you get back the hair that's gone like this?

Here's something to keep in mind. If you've lost your hair due to Female Pattern Baldness, it won't grow back without treatment. But don't worry. With proper treatment, it's possible to stop your hair loss and even regrow some of the hair that's already gone. That's why it's important to address this issue as soon as possible.

How common is this condition?

This is actually something that is seen among many women. The main reason for women's hair loss is this 'Female Pattern Baldness'. Imagine, in a country like America alone, about 30 million women have this condition. So, many people in Sri Lanka may have this too.

How does this affect the body?

In Female Pattern Baldness, the little tubes on your scalp that produce hair – we call them hair follicles – gradually shrink. So, as those hair follicles get smaller and smaller, the hair that does grow becomes thinner and shorter. Over time, those follicles stop producing hair altogether.

This will not cause much harm to your physical health. That is, it is not like developing other diseases. However, this can have a big impact on your mental health. It can affect how you think about yourself when dealing with society. For some, this can cause a lot of emotional stress, unnecessary fear (` anxiety `) and even depression (` depression `) . Because hair is something that greatly affects a woman's beauty.

What are the symptoms of this?

The main symptoms of 'Female Pattern Baldness' are:

• Thinning or thinning of hair around the middle of the head.
• Thinning or thinning of hair on either side of the middle of the head. Also, the gap between the hairline and the hairline increases.
• Thinning or loss of hair all over the top of the head.

Usually, hair loss starts from the middle of the head. Over time, hair begins to thin out on both sides of the head, towards the front of the head.

This is not painful. Most women first notice this after menopause , which is when their monthly periods stop.

Will I understand this if I don't draw a line through the middle?

Female Pattern Baldness starts at the top of your head, which is where your hair naturally parted in the middle. If you're someone who always wears a side parting, you may not notice it right away. But you may notice a change in the texture of your hair, such as thinning, in the middle of your head.

Will this get worse without treatment?

Yes, absolutely. If left untreated, Female Pattern Baldness will gradually worsen. That's why it's important to recognize it early and start treatment.

What causes this?

There are several main reasons for this:

• Age: The risk of developing this condition increases with age. About one in three women will experience it at some point in their lives. After menopause , about two in three women will experience thinning or complete hair loss.
• Hormones : Dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) is a hormone that belongs to a group of hormones called androgens. These hormones are responsible for the changes in the body that occur during puberty, such as hair growth on the face, scalp, chest, armpits, and private parts. After menopause, hormone levels decrease, which can affect DHT levels. Doctors and researchers believe that there is a link between DHT and the shrinking of hair follicles that we mentioned earlier.
• Genetics : If your close family members, that is, your mother, father, siblings, have a hair loss problem, you are more likely to develop Female Pattern Baldness.

Who is at higher risk of developing this?

This condition can affect any woman. And it can happen at any age. You may start losing your hair in your twenties or thirties. However, if someone in your family has a history of hair loss, or if you have gone through menopause, you are more likely to develop this condition.

How do you recognize this?

Female Pattern Baldness is a condition that is easy to recognize. So you don't necessarily need a doctor to diagnose it. However, a doctor can confirm it by examining your scalp. The doctor will ask you about your medical conditions, when your hair started falling out, and whether anyone in your family has hair loss problems. They will also take notes on the width of your scalp and the areas where your hair is thinning.

What tests are done to diagnose this?

Your doctor may examine your scalp using a special device called a densitometer. This densitometer measures the thickness of your hair follicles.

However, if the doctor suspects that this hair loss is not due to 'Female Pattern Baldness' but due to another cause, he may do things like:

• Checking for any infection in the head.
• Taking a small sample from a strand of hair and sending it to a lab for testing.
• A scalp biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a small piece of skin from the scalp to check for a skin disease.
• Blood tests .

What is the treatment for this?

There are several treatments for Female Pattern Baldness. They are:

• Medications: There are over-the-counter medications, such as Minoxidil (Rogaine®), that are often the first treatment to start with. In addition, there are oral medications that your doctor may prescribe, such as Finasteride (Propecia®). Your doctor may also tell you to use Ketoconazole 2% shampoo along with Finasteride.
• Hair transplant: This involves taking small pieces of skin from a well-grown area of ​​your body (for example, the back of your head) and transplanting them to areas with little or no hair. This is a bit more expensive and is like a minor surgery.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment: This involves taking some of your own blood, preparing it in a special way, and then injecting it back into your own scalp where you have thinning hair. This is said to stimulate hair growth.
• Red light therapy: This involves shining a short wavelength of red light onto your scalp to promote hair growth.
• Hair styling techniques: Some people can hide this condition with hairstyles, wigs, or hair weaves.

What works for one person may not work for another, so your doctor will help you find the treatment that works best for you.

What should someone with this condition expect?

Female Pattern Baldness is a treatable condition. Many people with this condition are unhappy with their appearance and do not seek treatment. However, if you are interested, your doctor can help you slow down your hair loss or regrow some of the hair that has already been lost.

If this 'Female Pattern Baldness' is causing you distress, meaning it is affecting your mental health, your doctor may refer you to a mental health counselor.

Are there ways to prevent this?

Unfortunately, there is no proven way to prevent Female Pattern Baldness. However, there are a few things you can do to help keep your hair healthy and possibly even promote hair growth:

• Eat more protein: You need at least 40-60 grams of protein per day, especially if you are vegetarian or vegan. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and protein, may help reduce hair loss.
• Take vitamins: Certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A , B, C, D, E, zinc , and iron, help maintain healthy hair, skin, and muscle tissue. However, always consult a doctor before starting any new vitamin supplement.
• Find ways to manage stress: Stress can increase your androgen hormone activity, which can worsen Female Pattern Baldness.

When should I see a doctor?

Many people with Female Pattern Baldness don't go to the doctor. However, if you want to save your hair, it's best to see a doctor as soon as you notice that your hair is falling out.

What questions should you ask the doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, it's a good idea to ask questions like these:

• Do I have Female Pattern Baldness, or what else is causing my hair to fall out?
• What medications or treatments are recommended?
• What are the side effects of those medications and treatments?
• What else can I do to prevent further hair loss?
• Should I see a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon?

What is the difference between 'Telogen Effluvium' and 'Female Pattern Baldness'?

Telogen Effluvium is another type of hair loss. This is a sudden loss of hair over a short period of time. It usually occurs a few months after a period of physical or mental stress. It can also occur due to sudden hormonal changes. Telogen Effluvium is usually temporary. Once your stress is gone, your hair will often grow back without treatment.

However, 'Female Pattern Baldness' is something much more serious. The exact cause of this is still unknown. Without medication or treatment, 'Female Pattern Baldness' is a permanent condition that causes hair loss.

Finally, things to remember

Female Pattern Baldness is a common condition that affects many women after menopause. Many people with this condition simply accept it as something that happens as they get older and do not go to see a doctor. However, it can have a negative impact on your mental health. Therefore, if you feel that you have symptoms of Female Pattern Baldness, especially if it makes you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, see a doctor immediately. There are now medications and treatments that can stop Female Pattern Baldness and even regrow your hair. So, the most important thing is not to panic, get the right advice, and do what works for you.

` Hair thinning, Female pattern baldness, Hair loss, Androgenetic alopecia, Hair loss, Hair treatment, Female Pattern Baldness