To the untrained eye, the first signs of hair loss can sometimes be chalked up to some other problem. Whether it’s hair washing down your shower drain or the leftover hair in your hairbrush becoming unmanageable, the clues point to the same thing. The more signs you notice, the higher the likelihood that you are beginning to experience androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern baldness or male pattern baldness.
Female and male pattern baldness can have some overlapping signs, but there are also distinct differences in how they manifest:
Female Pattern Baldness
- Hairline: Women typically retain their hairline, and receding hairlines are less common. Instead, female pattern baldness often starts with diffuse thinning of hair on the crown of the head, resulting in a widening part, and a slight recession at the temples. As the hair thins, the scalp may become more visible, especially under bright light or in certain hairstyles. Sometimes, the first noticeable sign is a reduction in hair density, where strands can become finer, weaker, and more brittle over time.
- Hair Shedding: Increased shedding of hair, both during washing or brushing and throughout the day, may occur. You might notice more hair in your hairbrush, shower drain, or on your pillow.
- Pattern of Hair Loss: Female pattern baldness tends to cause overall thinning of the hair rather than specific bald patches or a receding hairline, as is more common in men.
- Miniaturization of Hair Follicles: Hair follicles affected by androgenetic alopecia may produce thinner, shorter, and lighter-colored hairs, a process known as miniaturization.
- Progression: Female pattern baldness usually progresses gradually over time. It may start in the late teens to early 20s, but it’s more common for women to notice significant hair loss later in life, often around menopause. Hair growth may slow down, and new hair may take longer to grow back in.
- Hormonal Factors: Female pattern baldness is influenced by hormonal changes, particularly fluctuations in androgens (male hormones like testosterone), but it’s generally less hormonally driven than male pattern baldness.
- Family History: Female pattern baldness often has a genetic component, so if other women in your family have experienced hair loss, you may be more susceptible.
- Scalp Itching or Irritation: Some people with androgenetic alopecia may experience scalp discomfort, itching, or inflammation. And others may have a bout of folliculitis, a common skin condition that can occur anywhere the body produces hair.
Male Pattern Baldness
- Hairline: Male pattern baldness often begins with a receding hairline, forming an “M” shape, followed by thinning at the crown of the head. Eventually, the two areas of hair loss may meet, leaving a horseshoe-shaped pattern of hair around the sides and back of the head.
- Hair Shedding: Same as female.
- Pattern of Hair Loss: Men typically experience more localized hair loss, with distinct bald patches or areas of thinning concentrated at the temples, crown, and vertex (top) of the scalp.
- Miniaturization of Hair Follicles: Hair follicles affected by androgenetic alopecia may produce thinner, shorter, and lighter-colored hairs, a process known as miniaturization.
- Progression: Male pattern baldness can progress slowly or rapidly, depending on genetic and environmental factors. It often starts earlier in life, commonly in the late teens to early 20s, and progresses gradually over the years.
- Hormonal Factors: Male pattern baldness is strongly influenced by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is derived from testosterone. DHT shrinks hair follicles over time, leading to shorter, finer hair growth and eventual cessation of hair production.
- Family History: Same as female, except at a higher susceptibility rate.
- Scalp Itching or Irritation: Same as female.
While both female and male pattern baldness involve the gradual loss of hair, they differ in the specific patterns of hair loss, the age of onset, and the role of hormones in the process. Female pattern baldness tends to result in overall thinning of the hair without a significant change in the hairline, whereas male pattern baldness typically involves a receding hairline and more localized bald patches.
If you’re concerned about hair loss, it’s important to consult with a dermatologist or healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and discuss treatment options. They can help diagnose the type of hair loss and recommend appropriate treatments, which may include topical medications, oral medications, laser therapy, or hair transplant surgery, depending on the severity and underlying cause of the hair loss.
