Androgenetic alopecia in women is about 20%.
According to this figure and it would seem that this number is increasing in recent years.
If it is a benign pathology from a medical point of view, its psychological impact is significant.
It causes stress and a significant drop in the patient’s self-esteem.
Is hair loss normal for a woman?
Hair loss is a natural phenomenon for both women and men.
Indeed, hair falls at a normal frequency of 40 to 100 per day.
However, if more than a hundred hairs are lost every day, hair loss in a woman can in some cases be pathological.
A temporary hair loss can be caused by an event, an illness or a malaise, without necessarily developing beyond this temporary character.
On the other hand, excessive and persistent hair loss must be stopped with proper hair care, without which it can spread and worsen.
What is androgenetic alopecia in women?
As in men, androgenetic alopecia is one of the main causes of hair loss in women.
Hair loss is localized and never leads to total baldness.
Indeed, the hair located on the front line, on the temples and at the back of the head persists throughout the life of the patient.
Also, hair loss in women is more diffuse and progresses more slowly, which can lead to significant stress.
In addition, androgenetic alopecia differs from two other hair loss phenomena:
- Telogen effluvium , which causes diffuse alopecia and often resolves without treatment;
- and alopecia areata, which causes sudden, patchy hair loss.
What causes androgenetic alopecia in women?
There is the conjunction of two accompanying causes:
- Sensitivity of hair roots to male hormones.
- And the genetic predisposition of the hair to undergo this stimulation.
In fact, women produce male hormones which are secreted by the adrenal glands and the ovaries.
This completely normal secretion of androgens occurs in much lower proportions than in humans (up to 20 times less).
However, in the case of an androgenetic predisposition , this small amount of androgens is enough to trigger the process of hair loss.
The hair growth cycle accelerates and the renewal capital of the hair follicles is prematurely exhausted.
The hair becomes finer and finer until it disappears completely.
At the same time, androgens cause an increase in sebum secretion.
Sebum stagnates in the scalp . This gradually thickens, making it difficult to irrigate and renew the hair roots correctly.
The phenomenon of androgenetic alopecia often begins at a key phase in a woman’s life, namely:
- Puberty.
- Maternity.
- Pre-menopause.
- Or even menopause.
In addition, certain events such as a period of intense stress or eating disorders that lead to undernutrition aggravate hair loss.
How to recognize androgenetic alopecia in women?
In women, development is somewhat different from that of men.
According to the Ludwig scale , there are three clinical stages:
- Stage 1: Hair loss is moderate and affects the top of the skull.
- Stage 2: Alopecia is more pronounced and short, gray or white hairs may appear on diseased hair.
- Stage 3: The alopecia is almost complete at the level of the vertex. A thin band of hair is maintained at the forehead and the nape of the neck.
A hair examination is recommended to confirm the androgenetic origin of the hair loss.
How to fight against androgenetic alopecia in women?
As with men, there are several medical and surgical solutions to normalize and/or mask the effects of hair loss.
Drug treatments
In terms of drug treatments, the effect is to slow the progression of alopecia.
In women, treatment with Minoxidil 2% is often prescribed from the first level of the Ludwig scale.
Because it normalizes the hair cycle, even slows it down and in some cases stops hair loss.
Sometimes anti-androgen hormone therapy may be recommended by the gynecologist if there are no contraindications.
These drugs also consist of stimulation of the hair follicle and others to block the effects of the sex hormones concerned.
Hair transplants
Hair transplantation involves removing a few healthy hair follicles from the occipital area.
Then, the process consists of inserting them on the balding area of the scalp .
The result of a transplant is permanent.
Injection treatments
There are several types of injection treatments (meso grafting, mesotherapy, PRP treatment, microneedling) that can stimulate cell activity and delay hair loss.
Trichopigmentation
Dermapigmentation is only the semi-permanent tattooing of the scalp. It temporarily masks bald areas.
Nutrition
Eating disorders are one of the causes that can aggravate the effects of androgenetic alopecia.
These disorders lead to vitamin or nutrient deficiencies , which make it difficult for hair to grow properly.
The goal is therefore to adopt a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables. You have to choose them with the right vitamins.
Cosmetic solutions
Cosmetic solutions such as hair prostheses or densifying hair powder are becoming more and more effective in concealing baldness undetectable to the naked eye.
The use of oil or serum for the scalp is also used.
These different types of treatments have different effects on each woman.
Others react immediately with an immediate result while on others the effects take time.
Before choosing any type of treatment, it is best to seek the advice of a professional.
Then, examinations are carried out to be certain of his opinion.
