The Details of Male Hair Loss vs. Female Hair Loss
In many ways, men and women are very much alike. But one way in which the genders differ is in male hair loss vs. female hair loss. How losing hair affects each sex is unique, just as are the causes and treatment plans associated with gender.
Common Causes of Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss
Let’s look first at what male hair loss and female hair loss have in common. Genetics is the biggest factor in thinning or balding for both sexes. In fact, more than 95 percent of all cases relate to androgenetic alopecia regardless of gender. Affecting more than three million Americans each year, this condition is hereditary.
Androgenic alopecia is rooted in androgen hormones like testosterone. Although testosterone is a significant part of male sexual development, this hormone is present in both genders and affects men and women similarly when it comes to hair growth.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a by-product of testosterone for which men and women with pattern baldness show genetic sensitivity. Because of this genetic sensitivity to DHT, hair follicles shrink and stop producing hair.
Of course, androgenic alopecia is not the only type of hair loss that men or women may experience. Other factors can lead to thinning or balding of the hair. In women, other hormonal connections to losing hair are the changes brought about by menopause.
How Androgenetic Alopecia Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss Occur
Hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary condition in both men and women. However, how this loss occurs is different between the genders.
Male hair loss related to pattern baldness occurs earlier than for female counterparts. In fact, many men experience their first symptoms as early as their late teens. By the age of 35, about two-thirds of men with this condition already have noticeable thinning or bald spots. Also, by age 50, 85 percent of affected males have significant loss in a predictable pattern. This thinning typically starts at the front hairline for men, extending across the top of the head downward to the crown.
To the contrary, women typically do not notice any hair thinning or balding until many years into their condition. Female hair loss related to androgenetic alopecia typically manifests between the ages of 50 and 60. But unlike male hair loss, female hair loss occurs throughout the scalp in the form of thinning hair all over the head.
Unfortunately, there is no clear pattern to this type of hair loss women experience. Which of course is the opposite with male pattern baldness. For this reason, women must act fast toward treatment upon noticing their first signs.
Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia
There are many types of treatment available for both male hair loss as well as female hair loss. It is important for each individual person to meet with a hair loss expert to understand their type of hair thinning. Knowing first the cause of ones thinning hair, the best hair restoration treatment can be selected. Some of the most commonly used methods of treatment for male pattern baldness and female hair thinning include:
- Over-the-counter minoxidil hair treatments
- Prescribed finasteride oral tablets
- Prescribed dutasteride oral tablets
- Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
- Multiple follicular unit (MFU)
- Strip hair transplant (FUT)
If you notice signs of hair loss and suspect you may have androgenetic alopecia, it is important to schedule a visit with a hair loss expert. Certainly because evaluation is the first step toward treatment. Early detection and diagnosis play a big role in your treatment options and ultimate hair restoration. Schedule your visit with Dr. Arthur Zacco at AZ Hair Restoration in Raleigh, NC today by calling 919-615-0577.