It starts slowly… You brush your hair and find many long strands left behind in your brush. You finish shampooing and find noticeable clumps of hair on the shower floor. You tell yourself it’s nothing, after all, it’s normal to shed hundreds of hairs a day, right? Eventually, it’s hard to deny. You can really notice the hair on your head thinning, your scalp becoming more and more visible every day.
Contrary to popular belief, pattern baldness does not affect only men. In fact, up to 40 per cent of those suffering from pattern baldness are women! So why isn’t anyone talking about it? Female pattern baldness is almost unrecognized in the medical community, and sufferers are told the answer is to simply change their hairstyle, or maybe use some darker hair dye. Products that offer a temporary fix are almost always marketed towards men. What isn’t considered is the psychological impact of feeling unattractive, or like an outcast. The emotional and psychological stress can take as much of a toll on a person’s wellbeing as a physical disease.
Sometimes the cause of female baldness can be temporary, such as a hormone imbalance or the side effect of a medication, and will eventually go away with proper diagnoses and treatment. In many cases, however, it is simply a genetic condition and therefore permanent, meaning it can be a lifelong struggle.
As you notice more strands falling out and that gradual thinning you can no longer ignore, it is important to receive a proper diagnosis so you can begin finding a solution that allows you to live your life feeling normal and confident. After all, a woman’s hair is her crowning glory.
