Female-pattern baldness
Female-pattern baldness


Female pattern baldness

Alternative Names:
Alopecia in women; Baldness - female; Hair loss in women; Androgenic alopecia in women

Symptoms:
  • thinning of hair over the entire head
  • hair loss at the crown or hairline, mild to moderate


Signs and tests:

Female pattern baldness is usually diagnosed based on the appearance and pattern of hair loss and by ruling out other causes of hair loss.

A skin biopsy or other procedures may be used to diagnose medical disorders that cause loss of hair.

Hair analysis is not accurate for diagnosing nutritional or similar causes of hair loss. It may reveal substances such as arsenic or lead, however.




Review Date: 5/1/2002
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.