Both men and women are going to experience alopecia at some point in their life. Often, men go through it much earlier. For at least 20% of them, hair loss may begin in their 20s. Meanwhile, for most women, the onset of hair loss happens in their late 30s.
Experiencing hair loss can be devastating. Coping with it can be difficult, especially for younger people. It is also particularly more challenging for women than for men.
The common notion is that men struggle more than women since they tend to lose most or all of their hair. For women, alopecia rarely leads to balding, but it causes them to lose hair volume.
Yet, while they don’t end up bald, females still have a harder time dealing with there situation. This is mainly because of the stigma associated with not having a thick head of hair. Whilst society deem bald men sexy and attractive nowadays, this does not apply to women with thinning hair.
Suffice it to say, no woman is ever happy to find out that she is suffering from alopecia. The same is true for men. Even if society is more accepting of men suffering from alopecia, this doesn’t make it any easier for them to embrace their situation. In fact, men are as likely as women to look for solutions or seek treatment for their hair loss.
The most common type of hair loss in men and women is pattern baldness. Unfortunately, this hereditary condition is unavoidable. There is also no cure for both male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. However, there are treatments available which can slow down the hair loss.
The treatments for pattern baldness are highly effective, especially when they are administered at the initial stages of the problem. This is why it is important for men and women to know the early signs of alopecia so they can seek professional help immediately.
Early Signs of Alopecia in Men
The first signs of male pattern baldness is hair thinning along the forehead and temples. This can be difficult to notice since the hair loss happens gradually. Moreover, clumps of hair wouldn’t be falling off the person’s scalp. You have to know how your hair looks (or how thick it is) to be able to spot the problem at this stage. Alternatively, you can go to a trichologist or a dermatologist if you suspect you are exhibiting early signs of hair loss. These specialists can determine whether you are suffering from pattern baldness or not.
Over time, when the hair loss is not discovered and treated right away, the hair line recedes and forms an M shape. For some, the M shape is replaced by U as the hair loss progresses. However, at this stage, hair loss is already quite advanced.
For some men, the hair loss starts on the crown area. The hair becomes thinner and thinner until a bald spot appears. It is usually easier to notice hair loss that starts in this area as compared to when it begins along the hair line. This is because the scalp becomes more visible as the person loses more hair.
Early Signs of Alopecia in Women
Alopecia in women is typically more difficult to spot since the hair loss is diffused. There are a few, however, who experience hair recession on their temples.
Generally, decreased hair volume is the most noticeable sign of a hair loss problem in women. Some become aware of their alopecia because their ponytail is thinner than it used to be.
Another common sign of female pattern baldness is thinning around the part area. This eventually leads to a wider part. In the long run, as the hair loss becomes worse, the scalp becomes more and more visible.
Again, as mentioned earlier, spotting hair loss at its early stages is not easy. This is why it is best to consult a trichologist or a dermatologist instead of self-diagnosing.
Worried you might have early signs of alopecia? Entrust the diagnosis to our experienced trichologist and dermatologist! Call us at 016793618 to schedule an appointment with them.
—
Image by reaklop2 from Pixabay