Female Hair Loss: Causes, Conditions and Treatments

Hair loss in women is more common than many people realise and can be triggered by a range of factors including hormonal changes, stress, and medical conditions. Identifying the symptoms early and understanding the underlying cause can help guide effective treatment.

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Hair loss in women can generally be seen evenly across the scalp without definite bald patches. If this is happening to you, then one of the following conditions may be affecting you:

Common Female Hair Loss Issues

• Diffuse Hair Loss
• Female Pattern Balding (Androgenetic Alopecia)
• Telogen Effluvium
• Alopecia Areata
• Late-Onset Thinning
• Trauma-Based Conditions

Diffuse Hair Loss

Diffuse hair loss is a gradual thinning of the hair instead of a straightforward bald patch. It is the most common type of hair loss in women.

What happens
The replacement of old hairs by new hairs slows down so that the hair becomes sparse and the scalp can be seen clearly through the hair. The causes can be numerous and include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.

Learn more about Diffuse Thinning.

Hanna’s Hair Loss Transformation

We helped Hanna recover from severe Diffuse Thinning. Learn how we helped.

Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia)

Often linked to hormonal changes, Androgenetic Alopecia (Female Pattern Baldness) in women follows events such as menopause, childbirth or as a result of stopping or starting oral contraceptive pills. This hair loss condition is generally more uniform over the scalp.

What happens
The condition results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to eventual hair loss.

Learn more about Female Pattern Baldness.

Anna’s Hair Loss Transformation

We helped Anna recover from Female Pattern Baldness. Learn how we helped.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen Effluvium occurs when the hair’s growing phase is interrupted prematurely, causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than expected. Following the regular cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins two to four months later.

What happens
When Telogen Effluvium strikes, it’s like a pause button has been pressed on your hair growth. Not enough hairs are left in the anagen or growing phase, resulting in diffuse hair thinning. It’s as if your hair takes a break, leaving you with less volume and thickness.

Learn more about Telogen Effluvium.

Sue’s Hair Loss Transformation

We helped Sue recover from menopausal Telogen Eflluvium. Learn how we helped.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The exact cause of Alopecia Areata is still unknown, although current theories include a form of auto-immune disease, stress or a genetic basis.

What happens

The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged, or brittle appearance.

The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress, or a genetic basis. However, it’s important to note that hair can regrow in many cases. Should the hair loss progress until all the scalp hair is lost, the condition is known as Alopecia Totalis or Alopecia Universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.

Learn more about Alopecia Areata.

Rachel’s Hair Loss Transformation

See how we helped Rachel with a serious alopecia problem, which we fixed within 12 months. Learn how we helped.

Late-Onset Thinning

Late-onset thinning can be seen in diffuse hair loss across the scalp as hair density gradually reduces. This condition is due to age-related hormonal changes. Recognising the signs of patchy hair loss early on is crucial. It could be an indication of a form of alopecia. By being proactive in your health management, you can take the necessary steps to address it.

Learn more about Late-Onset Thinning.

Trauma-Based Hair Loss Conditions

There are three primary trauma-related hair loss conditions, these are:

• Chemical Trauma
• Traction Alopecia
• Surgery or body injury

Chemical Trauma

Chemical trauma, a serious issue, can be inflicted on the hair through processes like bleaching, relaxing, perming, or dying. The chemicals used in these procedures can severely damage the hair’s protein structure, leading to dehydration, brittleness, and often hair loss. Not only do these chemicals harm the hair, but they can also cause scalp irritation, further exacerbating the problem.

Traction Alopecia

A condition that develops over time, is hair loss triggered by continuous tension on the hair, such as from an overly tight ponytail, plaiting, or using excessively tight rollers. The persistent pulling on the hair leads to the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle, producing finer and finer hairs. This long-term effect underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Injury to the Body or Surgery

Along with its associated anaesthetics and medications, injuries to a person (or surgery) can also interrupt the normal growth cycle. A relatively minor injury can result in disproportionably severe hair loss.

See Angela’s Hair Loss Transformation

See how we helped Angela with serious Traction Alopecia and Chemical Damage issues. Learn how we helped.