Inheritance can be from either the mother’s side or the father’s side of the family. We know that hormones play a role in this type of hair loss, especially the “androgenic” hormones such as testosterone.
Female pattern hair loss is typically more pronounced in the frontal areas of the scalp. Over time the hair shaft gets thinner in a process known as “miniaturization”. The hair goes through a constant life cycle, as it naturally sheds and grows new hairs. However, miniaturization occurs, because the anagen phase, or growth phase, of the hair cycle, gets shorter, which means the hair is not able to grow as long or thick as it has in the past. Eventually if not treated, the affected hair will continue to get smaller and disappear completely.
It is essential that women start treatment as soon as they notice excessive hair shedding or thinning. By the time the scalp is visible through the hair, almost 50% of the density in that area has been lost.
