Female Alopecia
Hair loss in women in Panama
For women, female pattern baldness is a reality that can be truly discouraging. Hair loss in women in Panama does not only occur in post-menopausal women; it can also be caused by pregnancy or certain illnesses that result in hair loss.
In women, as in men, the most likely cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia. However, it develops and progresses differently than in men. That is why another metric is used to identify the stage of alopecia: the Ludwig scale.
What is female androgenic alopecia?
Female pattern hair loss is a condition that occurs in women who suffer from androgenic alopecia and affects up to 40% of women by the age of 50. It usually begins when patients notice thinning hair, along with obvious signs of shedding, such as more hair in the shower, on the brush, and on the pillow when they wake up.
Unlike men who suffer from male pattern hair loss, the signs and symptoms in women are more pronounced. Where men will notice thinning in certain areas of their scalp, such as the temples and crown, women with androgenic alopecia will notice thinning hair across the entire scalp with more loss at the top of the head, causing a widening of the hair part in the center.
The good news about female androgenic hair loss is that it rarely, if ever, leads to complete baldness as it does in men.
In most cases, female alopecia can be treated by a physician or specialist in hair restoration.
What are the causes of female alopecia?
Age: Some hair loss is natural as we age, whether male or female.
Hormones: Hormonal changes can lead to hair loss in women. For women, especially those going through or who have already experienced menopause, the likelihood of experiencing hair loss is much higher.
In particular, changes in androgen levels (male hormones such as DHT) are responsible not only for hair loss on a woman's head, but also for thicker hair on other parts of her body.
Genetics: If someone in your family, such as your mother, father, or grandmother, suffered from female pattern baldness, you are more likely to develop the same condition.
Other causes of hair loss may also include:
Trichotillomania
Alopecia Areata
Congenital Alopecia
Scarring Alopecia
Telogen effluvium
Diagnosis of female baldness in Panama
The diagnosis of female hair loss is relatively straightforward when there is a history of gradual thinning at the front and/or top of the scalp, relative preservation of the frontal hairline, a positive family history of hair loss, and the presence of miniaturization in the thinning areas. Miniaturization, the progressive decrease in the diameter and length of the hair shaft in response to hormones, can be identified using a handheld device called a densitometer.
In addition to densitometry, two other common diagnostic tests that can be performed in a doctor's office are hair plucking (a test for shedding) and hair pulling (a test for hair damage). If common causes are ruled out, a more comprehensive diagnosis is required, which may include blood tests, a biopsy, or other laboratory tests.
Diagnosis of hair loss in women
Complete medical history
Duration and pattern of hair loss
The patient's medication and diet
Family history of hair loss
Physical examination of the scalp (DHI alopecia test)
Blood test
Once the examinations are complete, the DHI doctor gives the patient the alternatives for their problem.
Direct hair implantation
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Micropigmentation
Natural products such as shampoos and lotions for hair loss
What are the types of alopecia in women?
Alopecia Areata:
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. Alopecia areata can occur in several members of the same family, suggesting that genetics plays an important role in this condition. It affects both men and women and usually first appears in childhood.
There are several forms of alopecia areata, including:
- Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss): This is the most common form of alopecia areata, which causes one or more round patches of hair loss.
- Total alopecia: This form of alopecia areata is characterized by complete hair loss from the scalp.
- Alopecia universal: This condition is the most advanced form of alopecia areata and results in total hair loss on the scalp and body.
- Ophiasis: This form of alopecia areata occurs in a wave pattern around the edge of the scalp, usually at the back of the head.
Other causes of female alopecia:
Hair loss in women can be caused by conditions other than androgenetic alopecia:
It is the sudden loss of hair in the growth phase (anagen). This condition can be caused by exposure to chemicals or toxins, such as those found in chemotherapy or radiation for cancer treatment. It grows back in 1 to 3 months, but hair loss can be permanent.
It is a condition in which there is no hair growth from birth. Instead of having hair and losing it over time, people with hypotrichosis never grow hair. This condition is believed to be caused by a genetic deviation during fetal development.
Hereditary hair loss is the most common type of hair loss and is progressive. Men and women with androgenetic alopecia are born with hereditary hair follicles that are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone causes hair follicles to miniaturize over time, producing thinner, finer hair.
It is usually caused by a bacterial infection and occurs when hair follicles become inflamed due to blockage or damage. The follicles may be surrounded by a ring of inflammation and resemble acne. In the early stages, hair may still be present in the follicle, but as the condition progresses, it will fall out. In severe cases, the inflammation can permanently damage the hair follicles and lead to hair loss.
It occurs when hair follicles are prematurely pushed into the resting (telogen) phase of hair growth. This condition is usually caused by acute external factors, such as physical trauma, surgery, serious illness, or other factors that cause intense stress on the body. It usually appears as diffuse thinning across all areas of the scalp and, in many cases, is temporary and reversible.
It results from hair follicles damaged due to constant tension or pulling over a long period of time. Repeated use of tight hairstyles, such as ponytails, buns, or braids, can cause traction alopecia. This condition usually occurs near the temples or along the hairline. African American women often experience this type of hair loss at their hairline, which is the area of the hairline that runs from ear to ear and frames the face.
is characterized by weak spots, or nodes, present along the hair shaft. The nodes cause the hair to break easily, leading to thinning or patchy hair loss. The condition can be triggered by harsh styling practices such as excessive use of chemicals and heat styling tools.
It is an impulse control disorder that drives people to compulsively pull out their own hair. Trichotillomania usually results in patchy bald spots on the scalp, eyebrows, and/or eyelashes.
Treatment of Female Alopecia
The hair restoration industry has come a long way since conventional surgery, in which a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head to collect hair follicles for transplantation.
DHI has developed several techniques that can reduce hair loss in women: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), as well as new natural products to support hair loss, such as shampoos and lotions.
What is the classification of female hair loss?
The common diffuse pattern of hair loss in women caused by heredity is organized by the degree of thinning. This classification system for hair loss in women is called the Ludwig classification.Hair loss in the Ludwig system is classified as mild, moderate, and extensive.