Skip to Content

Female Alopecia

Woman undergoing hair restoration consultation at DHI clinic.

Hair loss in women in Panama

For women, female pattern baldness is a reality that can be truly discouraging. Hair loss in women in Panama does not only occur in post-menopausal women; it can also be caused by pregnancy or certain illnesses that result in hair loss.

In women, as in men, the most likely cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia. However, it develops and progresses differently than in men. That is why another metric is used to identify the stage of alopecia: the Ludwig scale.

What is female androgenic alopecia?

Female pattern hair loss is a condition that occurs in women who suffer from androgenic alopecia and affects up to 40% of women by the age of 50. It usually begins when patients notice thinning hair, along with obvious signs of shedding, such as more hair in the shower, on the brush, and on the pillow when they wake up.

Unlike men who suffer from male pattern hair loss, the signs and symptoms in women are more pronounced. Where men will notice thinning in certain areas of their scalp, such as the temples and crown, women with androgenic alopecia will notice thinning hair across the entire scalp with more loss at the top of the head, causing a widening of the hair part in the center.

The good news about female androgenic hair loss is that it rarely, if ever, leads to complete baldness as it does in men. In most cases, female alopecia can be treated by a physician or specialist in hair restoration.

What are the causes of female alopecia?

Age: Some hair loss is natural as we age, whether male or female.

Hormones: Hormonal changes can lead to hair loss in women. For women, especially those going through or who have already experienced menopause, the likelihood of experiencing hair loss is much higher. In particular, changes in androgen levels (male hormones such as DHT) are responsible not only for hair loss on a woman's head, but also for thicker hair on other parts of her body.

Genetics: If someone in your family, such as your mother, father, or grandmother, suffered from female pattern baldness, you are more likely to develop the same condition.

Other causes of hair loss may also include:

check_circle Trichotillomania
check_circle Alopecia Areata
check_circle Congenital Alopecia
check_circle Scarring Alopecia
check_circle Telogen Effluvium
Hands holding fallen hair strands, showing hair loss.
Woman examining her hair in the mirror.

Diagnosis of female baldness in Panama

The diagnosis of female hair loss is relatively straightforward when there is a history of gradual thinning at the front and/or top of the scalp, relative preservation of the frontal hairline, a positive family history of hair loss, and the presence of miniaturization in the thinning areas. Miniaturization can be identified using a handheld device called a densitometer.

In addition to densitometry, two other common diagnostic tests are hair plucking (a test for shedding) and hair pulling (a test for hair damage). If common causes are ruled out, a more comprehensive diagnosis may include blood tests, a biopsy, or other laboratory tests.

Diagnosis of hair loss in women includes:

check_circle Complete medical history
check_circle Duration and pattern of hair loss
check_circle The patient's medication and diet
check_circle Family history of hair loss
check_circle Physical examination of the scalp (DHI alopecia test)
check_circle Blood test

Once the examinations are complete, the DHI doctor gives the patient the alternatives:

check_circle Direct hair implantation
check_circle Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
check_circle Micropigmentation
check_circle Natural products such as shampoos and lotions

What are the types of alopecia in women?

Alopecia Areata:

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. It affects both men and women and usually first appears in childhood.

Forms of alopecia areata:

1

Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss):

The most common form, which causes one or more round patches of hair loss.

2

Total alopecia:

Complete hair loss from the scalp.

3

Alopecia universalis:

Total hair loss on the scalp and body — the most advanced form.

4

Ophiasis:

Occurs in a wave pattern around the edge of the scalp, usually at the back of the head.

Other causes of female alopecia:

Hair loss in women can be caused by conditions other than androgenetic alopecia:

Sudden loss of hair in the growth phase (anagen), often caused by chemotherapy or radiation. Hair usually grows back in 1 to 3 months, but loss can be permanent.

A condition in which there is no hair growth from birth, believed to be caused by a genetic deviation during fetal development.

Hereditary hair loss is the most common type. Hair follicles sensitive to DHT miniaturize over time, producing thinner, finer hair in both men and women.

Usually caused by a bacterial infection when hair follicles become inflamed due to blockage or damage. In severe cases, the inflammation can permanently damage follicles and cause hair loss.

Occurs when hair follicles are prematurely pushed into the resting phase, usually due to physical trauma, surgery, serious illness, or intense stress. Often temporary and reversible.

Results from hair follicles damaged by constant tension or pulling over time. Repeated use of tight hairstyles such as ponytails, buns, or braids can cause this condition, usually near the temples or hairline.

Characterized by weak spots along the hair shaft that cause the hair to break easily. Triggered by harsh styling practices such as excessive use of chemicals and heat styling tools.

An impulse control disorder that drives people to compulsively pull out their own hair, usually resulting in patchy bald spots on the scalp, eyebrows, and/or eyelashes.
Happy woman with full hair, smiling confidently.

Treatment of Female Alopecia

The hair restoration industry has come a long way since conventional surgery, in which a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head to collect hair follicles for transplantation.

DHI has developed several techniques that can reduce hair loss in women: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), as well as new natural products to support hair loss, such as shampoos and lotions.

What is the classification of female hair loss?

The common diffuse pattern of hair loss in women caused by heredity is organized by the degree of thinning. This classification system is called the Ludwig classification.

Hair loss in the Ludwig system is classified as mild, moderate, and extensive.