Women's Guide to Androgenetic Alopecia

Learn about the condition, how to diagnose your situation, get the tests, and get treatment.

Did you know that over 20 million women in the United States are suffering from some type of hair loss? About 40% of them are also under forty years old. The emotional aspects of hair loss range from anxiety and depression, to frustration and poor self-esteem. Fortunately there are more options available now, to help slow down and even reverse hair loss.

The most important step in the search for answers is to educate yourself. Being proactive by researching information and seeking solutions is the best way to manage your treatment.

Unfortunately, treating and diagnosing female hair loss is not as simple and straightforward as male pattern baldness. Many physicians subscribe to the theory that women should immediately begin a regimen of growth stimulants (whether it be Rogaine for Women, or others).

Like men's hair loss however, there are underlying causes, and the good news is that a large percent of women's hair loss is completely reversible. The general idea behind diagnosing and treating it involves a responsible informed physician and a series of tests to rule out, or rule in, the causes.

The most common causes of hair loss in women are hormonally related. Whether it is an overactive thyroid, after effects of menopause or pregnancy, or a genetic hormonal response to an autoimmune condition - - there usually is a "good" reason why women lose their hair. The key is to find out what the reason is, and to then evaluate your options in dealing with it.

 

Step 2: Understanding Female Androgenetic Alopecia

If you are experiencing patchy hair loss, or sudden drastic head or body hair loss, we will be publishing guides for you in the coming months as well.

We encourage you to join our Discussion Forums where we have social networking forums just for those of you with conditions like these: Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Univesalis.