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Symptoms of Androgenic Alopecia in Women

Androgenic alopecia is a medical condition that is often the cause of baldness. In women it is caused by the action of the male hormones called androgens that are usually present in only small amounts. Androgenic alopecia is often attributed to a variety of factors associated with the actions of hormones, including, pregnancy, menopause, ovarian cysts, and the taking of high androgen index birth control pills. The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on the scalp's degree of sensitivity to androgens, as well as the measures taken to combat the hair loss process.

  1. Progressive Hair Loss

    • Hair Loss among women with androgenic alopecia is normally progressive and always accompanied by hair refinement. Sometimes it is also accompanied by hyperseborrhea, which is a skin condition that is linked to the excessive production of sebum. It is the cause of oily skin and possibly acne.

    Miniaturized Hairs

    • Women with androgenic alopecia usually notice miniaturized hairs, which are short and fine hairs, varying in length and diameter. In some women, the hair no longer grows to the length they had previously and hair ends tend to look wispy.

    Hair Loss is Localized On The Top Of The Hair

    • Most times the hair loss is localized on the top of the head, and sometimes the temporal lobes and the sides are also affected. The most common hair loss pattern is the enlargement of the hair's middle parting and thinning hair over the parietal and frontal scalp. Most women retain some hair along the frontal hairline.

    Hair Loss Triggered by Key Biological Periods

    • Androgenic alopecia can begin at any age in women. However, the condition tends to be triggered or aggravated during the three key periods in a woman's biological life: after puberty, with child-bearing, and during premenopause or at menopause.

    Other Symptoms

    • Women that experience androgenetic alopecia often have a hormonal imbalance, which can result in other symptoms, which include excessive body hair, acne or weight gain. According to DermaDoctor.com, there are other hormones besides androgen that play a role in androgenetic alopecia. These include testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.

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