Female pattern baldness implicates a distinctive pattern of hair loss in women that is usually due to genes, aging, and hormones. Baldness happens when a hair falls out and a new hair does not grow back in its place. There could be any number of reasons why this happens and it is now really understood, but some reasons have come out. Aging, family history of female pattern baldness or even male baldness or changes in the levels of androgens (male hormones) may cause female pattern baldness.

Female pattern baldness is permanent, if no treatment is done. Usually, the hair loss is mild to moderate. If a person is comfortable with their appearance, treatment does not have to be done. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one medicine to treat female pattern baldness and that is minoxidil which is used on the scalp. Minoxidil usually helps hair grow in 20% to 25% of women and in most women the hair loss will slow down or stop. Treatment is very expensive because it has to be used forever or the hair loss will start up again.

Female pattern baldness or alopecia is a form of hair loss that affects women due to genetic factors. It is most commonly noticed after menopause, although it may begin earlier. This is due to a combination of a family history of balding, aging, and hormones. This is not caused by vitamin deficiency, poor circulation, dandruff, or wearing hats. There is progressive shrinking of the hair follicles until they produce only a fine, wispy hair or cease functioning.

The hair loss associated with female pattern baldness is permanent and requires not treatment if the person is comfortable with her appearance. The only medication approved in the U.S. is topical minoxidil. This may help hair to grow in a quarter of women who use this. This also stop or slow hair loss in the majority of users. This medicine is expensive and the hair will fall out when use is stopped.

There is no known prevention for hair loss. Using shampoo and other hair products will only cause adverse effects.

The treatment are aimed at stimulating regrowth of terminal hairs and might include topical minoxidil and oral medications lie spironolactone or cyproterone acetate. Surgical therapy is also done to improve the appearance like scalp reduction, flaps, and hair transplants. However, the physician has to do a thorough evaluation since not everyone is a good candidate for these procedures.