Hair Loss in Women: Causes and Treatments
January 2022
in “
Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society (Print)
”
telogen effluvium androgenetic alopecia fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution frontal fibrosing alopecia central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia female pattern hair loss antiandrogens minoxidil corticosteroids hydroxychloroquine topical agents systemic agents noncicatricial alopecia cicatricial alopecia TE AGA FAPD FFA CCCA FPHL Rogaine
TLDR Women's hair loss can be due to hormonal changes and various conditions, with treatments focusing on stopping progression and managing symptoms.
Hair loss in women, often linked to hormonal changes, can be caused by conditions such as telogen effluvium (TE), androgenetic alopecia (AGA), fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution (FAPD), frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). TE, related to hair cycle disruption, can be triggered by factors like COVID-19, fever, surgery, infections, and certain drugs. AGA or female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form, presenting as hair thinning. FFA, more common in postmenopausal women, affects the frontal hairline and eyebrows. FAPD, a slow progressive hair thinning affecting mostly postmenopausal women, can be treated with antiandrogens, minoxidil, and corticosteroids combined with hydroxychloroquine. CCCA, primarily occurring in patients of African descent, is associated with genetic inheritance, aggressive hair styling, and chemical relaxers. Treatments aim to stop disease progression and include minimizing aggressive hair procedures and using topical and systemic agents. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can reverse noncicatricial cases and interrupt cicatricial alopecia progression.
