Is Female Hair Loss Hereditary?

Female hair loss, also known as female patterned baldness or androgenetic alopecia, is a condition that affects women as they age. Although it can be a difficult adjustment, it is a completely normal part of aging. In fact, up to two-thirds of women experience female hair loss. While some of the hair loss is related to menopause, which is when many women experience female patterned baldness, many also wonder if there is a hereditary component to it. For more information on female hair loss and treatment options, contact our team at Denver Hair Surgery.

In short, yes, there is a hereditary factor in androgenetic alopecia. In fact, Medical News Today states that genetics play a “significant” role. They go on to state that it can be inherited from either parent and even close relatives. However, there are other conditions that can affect hair loss in women. Some of the common causes are physical and/or emotional stress, hormonal changes, certain medications, and medical conditions. Therefore, it is important to seek counsel from your primary care physician to make sure that everything is okay before assuming it is normal.

Types of Female Hair Loss

Although female hair loss is something many women experiences, it does not affect all women the same. Therefore, experts have categorized female androgenetic alopecia into five different types.

Type 1. The least severe of all the types and is often how the female hair loss begins. It is classified as a small amount of thinning which is apparent around your part.
Type 2. A widening of the part, which is shown through increased thinning of the hair.
Type 3. More severe than Type 1 and 2 and is categorized by a see-through area on the top of the scalp.
Type 4. Also known as scarring alopecia. In this stage, the top of the scalp is affected and could be associated with repeated damage to the area.
Type 5. This is the most severe and is generally linked to medical and hormonal causes. In many cases, this stage can be untreatable.

It is important to note that the five types of female hair loss do not always occur in this order. Therefore, it is important to seek treatment as soon as you notice any changes to the thickness or distribution of your hair.

Treatment

Although female hair loss is normal as you age, there are treatment options if it is something that you want to correct. The first step is to schedule a visit to the Denver Hair Surgery office to get a diagnosis. This is crucial since self-diagnosis is not effective or accurate. Once you have a diagnosis from their expert team, a treatment recommendation will be made to ensure that you get the result you desire. It is crucial to seek medical counsel as soon as possible because the sooner it is diagnosed the sooner treatment can be implemented. In addition, the faster you receive treatment the sooner you will be able to stop the hair loss. This will also ensure that you have the potential opportunity to regrow the hair.

Losing your hair can be a difficult adjustment. Whether it happened gradually or seemed to occur overnight, it is important to schedule an appointment with the professionals at Denver Hair Surgery as soon as you notice changes to your hair. To schedule your first appointment, get a diagnosis, start treatment, and be on your way to a head of hair you are confident with, contact their team today here.