It’s likely that if you’re shedding more than normal, you’ve already noticed. Maybe you’ve paid attention to the hair that’s lost in the shower or while brushing your hair. While these signs of increased shedding could indicate a form of hair loss, the best way to know if you have female pattern hair loss is by looking at your pattern of hair loss and your family history. Does the hair on the top and crown of your head appear particularly sparse? Does your family have a history of hair loss? If so, it’s entirely possible you’re experiencing female pattern hair loss.
Many women say their hair parting was one of the first things that changed while in the early stages of hair loss. If your parting has begun to widen, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to cover it the way you used to, you may want to pay attention.
Female pattern hair loss is genetic, so your first step should be to look to other family members to see if their hair has thinned. On the flipside, if you’re experiencing rapid hair loss and have no family history of hair loss it would be best to check with your doctor to help understand what could be causing it.
The most common reason for hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as female pattern hair loss. Genetics, hormones, and age cause changes to your hair follicles, which lead to this condition. There are numerous probable causes for hair loss in women, but heredity is often the primary reason.
As a result of the hair loss cycle, all women experience a level of hair loss. If you experience female pattern hair loss, changes in your follicles interrupt this normal cycle, which leads to thinning hair and hair loss in women. Learn about the hair growth cycle.