As disruptive as pattern hair loss is to a man, when it happens to a woman it is far more disruptive. Here's why. Research shows that scalp hair in a woman constitutes one of the primary visual signals of health and fertility. Therefore, when a woman's hair thins so may her potential to find a long term mate. Fortunately, hair loss in females is actually quite rare prior to age 35 - 40. Nonetheless, statistically speaking, the most common reason why a 39 year old healthy woman begins to lose her hair is due to the same genetic and biochemical processes that cause common pattern baldness in men. This is not to say that women lose hair just the way men do. Obviously this is not the case.
First, in males pattern hair loss occurs earlier in life, often by age 21 to 25. In women, AGA tends to occur later at around age 40 or 45. Interestingly, men often show frontal bitemporal recession where the front hair line begins creeping back. At the same time a thin spot may emerge in the crown. In advanced forms, these two anatomical regions of the denuded scalp converge and the entire top of the scalp is devoid of hair. In women things happen differently. Even in advanced forms of female pattern hair loss, the feminine juvenile hair line is retained. However, a loss of density behind the hair line occurs and eventually the affected female notices that her scalp is visible when her hair is wet or when the wind blows her hair. As the process advances, the loss of density may become so acute that she seeks tools and prostheses (wigs for example) to mask the problem.
Biochemically as well as genetically, the triggers that cause hair to thin in women are remarkably congruent with those found in men. In essence, female pattern hair loss is the same disease process as male pattern hair loss, but with subtle differences such as those just discussed.
The spectrum of pharmaceutical treatment choices available for women offer options (e.g. spironolactone) unavailable to males, but there are also treatments for men (e.g. finasteride) that are not indicated for women. In any case, all pharmaceuticals present risk for side effect, some worse than others. Transplant surgery, where hair bearing grafts are moved from thick areas of the scalp to thin areas may not work well in women. This is because the pattern of loss may actually extend into the scalp area directly above and behind the ears --- where hair generally remains vibrant in AGA affected males.
There are several important reasons, non-drug, botanically-based treatments such as HairGenesis® may represent a useful therapy for females. First, the utility of such treatment has been shown for both genders. In other words, HairGenesis® works equally well, and sometimes even better in women. Second, with over fifteen years of clinical experience, HairGenesis® has compellingly demonstrated safety and efficacy in widespread usage. Third, HairGenesis® represents the sole non-drug hair loss treatment supported with published clinical research, and published university-based investigation. And fourth, the newest generation of HairGenesis® (now available) has been shown to operate through a dual-mechanism, by inhibiting pathologic inflammation in susceptible hair follicles and also blocking the deleterious effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the same susceptible hair follicles.
As always, it is our advice to involve one's primary care provider in exploring the best treatment options which may be available, depending on your own personal circumstances. For more information on hair loss research, or to purchase new Generation V HairGenesis® go to www.hairgenesis.com.
