Though many people believe that baldness and thinning hair affect only men, millions of women also suffer from these conditions. Hair loss can be demoralizing and embarrassing, not to mention the effect it has on sufferers’ appearances. While men and women both experience these conditions, their hair loss is not always the same. Read on for a comparison of hair loss in men and women. 

Male Hair Loss

Most hair loss in men is due to male pattern baldness, a genetic condition that results from sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone. This chemical shrinks hair follicles until they no longer produce hair. Male pattern baldness usually occurs in predictable patterns, beginning at the hairline or the crown of the head, and progressing into the “horseshoe” shape usually associated with baldness. By the age of fifty, over eighty percent of men have some degree of thinning hair, and genetic factors are responsible for 95% of hair loss cases.

Female Hair Loss

Women usually notice hair loss as extra strands in their combs; at first, they may not see a difference when they look in the mirror. Hair loss in women occurs as a gradual thinning all over the head, until hair that was once thick seems thin and limp. Though some women do carry genes for hair loss, there are many other reasons that women lose hair. About six weeks after giving birth, many women experience significant hair thinning as their bodies recover from the stress of pregnancy. In general, stress is a major cause of hair loss in women, be it from illness, life events, or an infection. Unlike men, women sometimes cause their own hair loss by wearing their hair in tight hair styles like cornrows, or by excessively bleaching or treating their hair.

Though men are more likely to experience hair loss, this condition is also a serious problem for women around the country. If you suffer from hair loss and want to explore your options for restoring your hair, call Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Fort Worth at (972) 620-9600.