Hair loss isn’t just a male problem. Women can experience hair loss at any age, and there are a variety of different types — from female pattern hair loss to traction alopecia. Causes range from genetics to stress to medications, but there are effective treatments to help regrow lost hair.
It’s normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day. But it can be upsetting when you notice more hair loss than this, bald patches, a widening part, or a ponytail that keeps getting thinner and thinner.
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. There are a few different types of alopecia that can affect women (many of which affect men too).
They include:
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL). This is also called female pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia, or androgenic alopecia (AGA). It’s the most common cause of hair loss in women. FPHL usually happens around midlife when you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s — but you might notice signs earlier than this. Hair loss tends to progressively get worse.
Alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. You might notice round bald patches on your scalp or hair loss in other places on your body. Hair can regrow, but it may fall out again, either in the same places or new places.
Telogen effluvium (TE). This type of hair loss can cause hair shedding. You might notice more hair than usual in your hair brush or shower drain. It’s a common cause of hair thinning in women. Telogen effluvium forces your hair into the telogen phase, the final phase of your hair’s growth cycle. This can happen after a stressful event but, rest assured, it’s usually temporary.
Traction alopecia. This type of hair loss is caused by tight hairstyles like ponytails, buns, cornrows, dreadlocks, or tight braids. You might notice hair loss around your hairline or wherever your hair is pulled tightly.
Hair loss is extremely common among women. Female pattern hair loss, for example, affects about 30 million women in the United States and many adults experience telogen effluvium at some point in their lives.
In fact, fewer than 45 percent of women get through life with a full head of hair.
The symptoms of female hair loss vary depending on which type of hair loss you have.
You may notice sudden hair loss, gradual hair loss, or hair loss that gets better or worse over time. Essentially, alopecia in women can look quite different from one person to the next.
Common symptoms of female pattern hair loss include:
A widening part
Hair thinning on the top of the head
A thinner ponytail
Hair loss at your temples
Overall thinning hair
Symptoms of alopecia areata include:
Bald spots on your scalp
A strip of hair loss on your scalp
Hair loss elsewhere on the body, like your eyebrows or eyelashes
Total hair loss on your scalp or all over your body
A tingling, itching, or burning sensation where you get hair loss
Changes in your nails
Symptoms of telogen effluvium include:
Excessive hair shedding
Hair thinning
Symptoms of traction alopecia include:
Broken hairs around your hairline
Hair loss where your hair is pulled tightly
A receding hairline
There isn’t a straightforward answer to “what causes hair loss in women?” There are many reasons for hair loss in women and they’ll vary depending on which type of hair loss you’re experiencing.
For example, female pattern hair loss is hereditary, meaning it’s caused by genetics passed on by your mom or dad. Your genetics determine how sensitive you are to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone your body produces as a byproduct of testosterone.
DHT can attach to your hair follicles, causing them to shrink. As follicles shrink, they can no longer support healthy hair growth, leading to hair loss.
FPHL is more common after menopause, so it’s thought that hormonal changes could also play a role.
Alopecia areata, on the other hand, is caused by an autoimmune disease. It happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.
Stress is the main driver of telogen effluvium. It might happen when:
You lose a lot of weight
You give birth
You stop taking birth control pills
You’re recovering from an illness, high fever, or surgery
You’re going through a stressful time, like a divorce or job loss
Meanwhile, wearing your hair in a tight ponytail or other rigid hairstyles can cause traction alopecia. Pulling your hair back tightly can cause your hair to break. Over time, you can damage your hair follicles so severely that hair can’t grow back.
Beyond these examples, other alopecia causes in women include:
Scalp infections
Deficiencies in biotin, iron, protein, and zinc
Medications
Health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid problems
Age
There are quite a few risk factors for hair loss in women.
They include:
Age. FPHL usually develops around midlife and continues to progress as you get older. It’s more common after menopause.
Family history. If your mom or dad has hair loss, you’ll probably experience it too. This goes for many types of hair loss, including FPHL and alopecia areata.
Poor diet. Vitamin deficiencies and not eating enough calories and protein can up your odds of hair loss.
Medical conditions. PCOS, thyroid disease, scalp psoriasis, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) — the list could go on. Many health issues could trigger hair loss.
Wearing your hair in tight hairstyles. Years of scraping your hair back into a slick ponytail could cause traction alopecia.
Stress. That includes everything from emotional stress from traumatic life events to physical stress from illnesses or operations.
It’s usually pretty easy to tell if you’re experiencing hair loss — you’re losing hair after all. But a dermatologist can diagnose the type of hair loss you’re experiencing and recommend the best course of action.
A dermatologist will start by doing a physical exam. As well as your hair, they may look at your scalp and nails too.
Next, they might ask about your medical and family history. Questions could include whether you’ve had a baby recently, started a new medication, or if your parents have experienced hair loss.
They may also do a pull test. This involves gently pulling on a few strands of hair to see how many come out.
In some cases, a healthcare provider might do a scalp biopsy or a blood test to help figure out what’s causing your hair loss, or they may test for ovarian or adrenal disorders.
There are plenty of treatments that can help women stop hair loss and encourage new hair regrowth.
Hair loss treatments are most effective when you start them at the first sign of hair loss. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to a dermatologist or another healthcare provider as soon as you notice symptoms.
FYI, female hair loss treatments look similar to those for men. Here’s what’s out there.
Medications for hair loss in women include:
Minoxidil. Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for FPHL. You can buy topical solutions — like foams, drops, or sprays — or you can get oral minoxidil tablets. Oral minoxidil isn't FDA-approved, but it’s often prescribed off-label for hair loss. Minoxidil helps stimulate hair growth and make your hair look fuller and thicker. It may take three to six months to notice a difference.
Spironolactone. Spironolactone is a once-a-day tablet that can stop hair loss from progressing and encourage new hair growth. It’s especially useful for women with hormonal issues like PCOS. It may take six to 12 months to make a difference.
Finasteride. Finasteride (Propecia®) is FDA-approved for male pattern baldness, but it’s often prescribed off-label for female pattern hair loss. It targets the follicle-shrinking DHT hormone, and may take four months or longer to fully kick in.
Hair loss medications aren’t safe for pregnancy, so let your dermatologist know if you’re pregnant or planning on trying for a baby soon.
If you have an infection or inflammation that’s causing hair loss, a healthcare provider can prescribe medication to treat that root cause.
Here are some additional hair loss treatments and approaches you can try either alongside or instead of medication:
Supplements. Supplements like biotin can keep your hair strong and healthy. It might also be worth speaking to a healthcare provider about zinc and iron deficiencies to see if supplements could be useful for you.
Hair loss shampoos and conditioners. Over-the-counter shampoos and conditioners can’t help you regrow hair, but they can help keep your hair as healthy as possible, reduce breakage, and make your locks look fuller and thicker.
Microneedling. This treatment involves thousands of tiny needles pricking the skin of your scalp. Your scalp will heal and your hair might grow back.
Laser therapy. Laser therapy may help FPHL, alopecia areata, and hair loss after chemotherapy. You may need many laser treatments to get the results you’re looking for, though.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy. his requires drawing blood and placing into a machine that separates blood into its components. One component — the platelets — are then treated and injected back into your scalp. It’s quite involved, but it may stimulate your cells to grow new hair.
Lifestyle changes. Try mixing up your hair routine, wearing looser hairstyles, cutting down on blow drying, and practicing stress-management techniques like yoga and meditation.
Hair transplant. Depending on how severe your hair loss is and how much it bothers you, you might look into a hair transplant. Transplants aren’t suitable for everyone, but a dermatologist can let you know if you’re a good candidate.
Wigs. It’s not natural hair, but it is an option if you’re concerned about hair loss and perhaps want to avoid medical treatments or if other treatments haven’t worked for you.
Your dermatologist can recommend the best treatments for you and inform you on any side effects you should know about. You can also speak with an expert and get hair loss treatments online.
You can’t do much about your genes or hormones, and we all grow old someday. But there are a few steps you can take to lower your odds of developing hair loss.
These include:
Wearing your hair in loose styles
Reducing how often you use heat to style your hair
Letting your hair dry naturally or using the lowest heat setting on your blow dryer
Quitting smoking
Eating nutritious foods and making sure you’re getting enough calories, protein, biotin, zinc, and iron
Keeping stress in check whenever possible