Hair Loss in Women

Female-pattern hair loss increases with age and varies according to age at onset and hormone status. How should clinicians evaluate and manage their patients?

Key Points

• Female-pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of hair loss in women, presenting with central-scalp hair loss that generally spares the occiput and with variation of hair-shaft diameter on trichoscopic visualization (see Figure 1).

• If a diagnosis of FPHL is suspected, clinicians should take a targeted history (e.g., age at onset, signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism, menopausal status) and order labs to assess for contributing factors (see Figure 2).

• A 4-mm scalp biopsy will help to confirm the diagnosis and determine the potential for regrowth.

• Clinicians c…