Bald Spots in Women

Baldness in women is not a common phenomenon and that is why one can understand why it could be a source of embarrassment for most. In a society where a lot of importance is given to looks and appearance, this being true more so for women than for men, bald spots in women would most definitely be taken as one of the most humiliating things to face for a woman. It not only leads to a shift in physical appearance, but can also lead to psychological effects like loss of confidence and the tendency to avoid interacting with people. In the article that follows, we shall look into the causes for bald spots in women and the treatment modes. Continue reading to get a clearer understanding of this issue so that you can deal with it effectively.

Causes of Bald Spots in Women

Though hair loss and thinning of hair is a common occurrence in women, developing bald spots is not. The condition of male and female hair loss is known as alopecia and there are several reasons that could cause the extreme form of this condition and lead to bald spots in women. The following are some of the main reasons of what causes hair loss in women.

Telogen Effluvium
Alopecia in women, of this kind results in a hair loss pattern that comes about in those women who have gone through severe traumas in life. Extreme stress, childbirth, loss of someone close (and more) are all considered to be certain reasons that could lead to this condition of hair loss. In this, the hair begins to start shedding at a very high rate and can continue to fall from the start of the trauma till 3 months or more. Until and unless the source of the trauma is zeroed in upon and treated, it could continue to affect the woman. However, once the source is found and corrected, it can lower or stop the rate of hair loss.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is one of the most common causes for bald spots in women. In this autoimmune disease, certain hair follicles begin to get infected (mostly noticed on the scalp). When this happens, the white blood cells from the body begin to attack the affected hair follicles, perceiving them as a threat. This results in stunted hair growth and then lead to a complete stop. This then results in small or large bald spots in women and can cause more severe hair conditions like alopecia totalis (complete hair loss on scalp) and alopecia universalis (complete hair loss on body). There are several alopecia areata causes that can be looked into as well to try to understand this condition better.

Other Causes
Here are some other reasons that can lead to baldness or bald spots in women:

• Hormones ~ Hormonal imbalance in the body can cause for severe hair loss in some women. This is especially brought on by menopause or irregular menstruation.
• Androgenetic Alopecia ~ This is more commonly referred to as male pattern baldness and affects females as well. This condition is more common in those women who have had a family history of this condition and therefore genetics is one of the main causes. Along with that, high levels of testosterone, DHT and androgens can also lead to this condition and cause several other symptoms as well.
• Fungal Infection ~ Certain fungal infection like ringworm and other diseases like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can also cause bald spots in women.
• Hairstyles ~ Tying your hair tightly and not allowing it to breathe and causing stress and tension to the hair follicles can also lead to bald spots. Other than that pulling the hair, using several treatments on the hair like coloring and perming can lead to the roots getting affected and causing bald spots in women.

Treatment for Bald Spots in Women

Depending on the condition that has led to the bald spots, the course of treatment for female baldness can be determined. There are certain medication forms that have become available in the market like Minoxidil and Propecia. The local application of these has shown results. In some cases, steroid injections are also used to treat this condition and an intake of special drugs is also known to help.

In the same manner, hot massages of certain specialized oils can result in substantial hair growth as well. Other than that, hair transplant is also gaining momentum as one of the most effective treatments for bald spots in women. Usage of creams to treat an underlying fungal condition will automatically lead to the treatment of the bald spots.

Although one of the most commonly used method is that of using hair weaves or wigs and changing of hairstyles to cover these spots. Many find these convenient, less invasive and cheaper.

A closer look at these reasons and treatment options for bald spots in women will help you understand if you need to get your condition checked. If there is ever a doubt, contact your dermatologist for determining the cause and then following a suitable form of treatment for the same.