Hair loss for women can be psychologically disturbing due to the social and personal effect it will have on a woman's self esteem. Frequency in men and women is common, however in women it is usually less severe. An average of 20% of females that present with diffuse hair loss will have a positive family history.
The process of hair loss in females is less scientifically understood. Hair loss in women can be gradual or quite sudden. It can depend on many factors. Its treatment depends on finding the underlying cause of the problem. With female patients, hair loss is usually caused by androgenetic alopecia (hereditary hair loss), telogen effluvium, alopecia areata and traction or chemical alopecia.

Androgenetic Alopecia

This type of hair loss is common to both sexes. It is responsible for up to 95% of all alopecia cases. Andros refers to male hormones called androgens that contribute to hair loss. Genetic refers to the fact that it is a family or hereditary trait.
Women also have levels of male hormones in their body (androgens). Men and women will be affected by hair loss, the different factor is the level of loss and when it will start.
Female pattern hair loss can begin as early as puberty or later in life. It is usually gradual and appears to a less degree in most women in the beginning. Close to 25% of women ages 35 – 40 and nearly 50% of women beyond the age of 40 will have signs of this condition.

Baldness itself occurs when a single dominant gene is inherited. That singleness is somewhat of a good thing and somewhat of a problem because it is easier to get one dominant gene passed on. If baldness would require two genes to be present it would be less frequent. This gene is passed on to a child by either parent. The myth it is inherited by one sex is false. If only one parent carries the dominant gene , a child has a 50% chance of inheriting the trait for baldness. It is raised to a 75 % chance of being bald if both parents posses the gene. Although someone may inherit the gene for hair loss the condition may not manifest unless other genetic factors are present
The most common cause is of hereditary nature, androgenetic alopecia, but the hormonal influences present in females may differ from those that are present in males. Besides these hereditary factors, there are other common causes and these include alopecia areata, hypothyroidism, post pregnancy, chemical overtreatments, traction alopecia.

 

LUDWIG SCALE