Male pattern hair loss is very common in the society today. However, very few people are aware of the female pattern baldness. The symptoms of female hair loss are pretty similar to that of the male pattern. The hormone dihydrotestosterone is the main factor behind both these forms of baldness. The abnormal activities of this hormone create premature baldness in both men and women.

However, there are differences as far as the location of the baldness is concerned. The men first experience their hair loss starting at the center of the head or at the forehead. The loss of hair then advances with time and meets each other to form a unique bald spot. On the other hand, the women experience their hair loss across the entire scalp. So, a bald patch or bald spot is not created in case of female hair loss.

The baldness in men can begin anytime after the puberty. Researches made on this subject have revealed that baldness usually occurs in the presence of abundant testosterone. This male hormone is responsible for combining with an enzyme known as the 5 alpha-reductase. The combination of testosterone and this enzyme creates dihydrotestosterone. This dihydrotestosterone ultimately blocks the follicles of the hair and prevents nutrients from entering your hair strand. This weakens your hair strand, and eventually they fall out and result in follicle death. The entire process may appear a bit complex to you, but the ultimate outcome is pretty simple – severe hair loss.

The hormonal changes are also responsible for the female pattern baldness. The changes in female hormone level can take place with the intake of oral contraceptives. Researches have revealed that an oral contraceptive includes a high amount of androgen. And this androgen contributes to hair loss in women. However, contraceptives with a very low androgen level can take control of the hair loss situation. On the other hand, the hormone testosterone is also present in a woman’s body. The testosterone level in a woman remains at the highest point during early twenties. Therefore, a natural hormonal change within the body of a woman allows testosterone to create dihydrotestosterone in almost the same manner, as in case of male pattern baldness mentioned above. A woman can also experience hair loss at the time when she undergoes menopause. In this context, it is well worth saying that laser therapy can be a good solution for female baldness.

Finasteride is a drug which can be used for hair restoration in men and women. This drug has proved effective in stopping dihydrotestosterone formation. However, women should not use this drug at the time of pregnancy as Finasteride can cause some serious birth defects in the baby. Minoxidil is another drug which has become very popular in treating the female pattern baldness. Interestingly, Minoxidil was first introduced for treating blood pressure. But later it proved more useful in growing hair. Women should take this drug only after consulting with an experienced doctor. However, if the drug fails to provide a cure, then laser therapy is the perfect solution.