Alopecia in Women: What to Know About Hair Loss

One of the conditions that tends to affect men more than women is alopecia, which is 
when you have hair loss that happens suddenly and leads to patches of missing hair on 
the top of your head. This is a genetic condition, that can also affect women. Here is 
what you should know about alopecia and hair loss in women, and how it might be 
different than when a man suffers from it.

The Cycle of Alopecia

Alopecia begins the same way for both men and women, which is when you start seeing 
a large amount of hair fall out. Unlike female pattern baldness and other causes of hair 
loss, it is not usually all over the head. With alopecia in women (and men), you might 
notice clumps of hair coming out around the crown or front of your head. Some women 
notice it more along their hairline before the crown of their head, while men often have a 
round-shaped bald spot at the top of their head. 

You may also have hair loss in other parts of your body, which is something many 
women are not expecting. Sometimes in the beginning, you just notice mild thinning, but 
over time it becomes more obvious that it is leaving round patches of hair loss on your 
head. 

Who is at a Higher Risk

While anyone can get alopecia, some people are at a higher risk for developing this 
condition. If you have a parent or other close family member who has alopecia, you are 
at a higher risk for getting it through genetics. You may also be at a bigger risk if you are 
prone to allergies, have abnormal shape or texture of your fingernails, or have an 
autoimmune disease. 

What Can Be Done About it

The good news with alopecia is that many women will actually have their hair grow back 
after a few months. It might not be exactly the same texture as before, but this can 
cover some of those balding or thinning areas. There are also some other treatment 
options to consider, including: 

Medications – Your doctor may prescribe a medication to be used on the bald patches 
where your hair is falling out. This includes Minoxidil, which is a topical solution applied 
to your scalp to stimulate hair growth. There are also other topical ointments, including 
Anthralin cream and cortisteroid ointments that might help. This also includes special 
shampoos you can get prescribed to you.

Cortisteroid injections – Injections are typically recommended if the topical 
medications or special shampoos are not working. This is actually one of the most 
common ways to treat the condition. For some, it helps to regrow hair, while in others, it 
just helps to slow down the hair loss process. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in 
learning more about the injections.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Not sure you have alopecia? You should know that not all hair loss instances, even at 
the crown of your head, are from this condition. Many causes can be temporary, which 
is good news! Some other causes of hair loss include damage to your hair from 
products or dying it, hormonal changes, scalp infections, or skin disorders. See a doctor 
to figure out the cause.
