The most common type of Female Pattern Hair Loss is female androgenetic alopecia. It affects about 20% of women. Like male pattern baldness, it also increase with age. Norwood in 2001 reported the following incidence in the female population : 3% in age 20-29, 16-17% in age 30-49, 23-25% in age 50-69%, 28% in age 70-79 and finally 32% in age 80-89.

PATTERN OF FEMALE HAIR LOSS

Grade I : Thinning hair on the central scalp
Grade II : Thinning hair and patches of greater scalp hair loss
Grade III: Male-pattern alopecia with hair loss at the front of the scalp to mid-scalp

LUDWIG CLASSIFICATION OF FEMALE HAIR LOSS

TREATMENT OF FEMALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS

The treatment of Female Pattern Hair loss should start with consultation with medical doctor. The medical examination should rule out any underlying medical problems such as certain autoimmune diseases, or diseases that cause overproduction of androgenic hormones. There are other non-androgenic female hair loss such as : Alopecia Areata, Traction alopecia, Trichotillomania, Telogen effluvium, loose-anagen syndrome, Triangular alopecia, scarrig alopecia.

Once the underlying cause of hair loss is determined, combination treatments are usually used. Rogaine is usually complement hair transplantation by stimulating new hair growth as well as decrease temporary postoperative loss of transplanted hair. Hair transplantation techniques have to be customized to replace multiple areas of patchy hair loss.