Female-pattern baldness

Alternative names:

alopecia in women; androgenic alopecia in women; baldness - female; hair loss in women

Symptoms:

• thinning of hair over the entire head
• hair loss at the crown or hairline, mild to moderate

Signs and tests:

Female pattern baldness is usually diagnosed based on the appearance and pattern of hair loss and by ruling out other causes of hair loss.

A skin biopsy or other procedures may be used to diagnose medical disorders that cause loss of hair.

Hair analysis is not accurate for diagnosing nutritional or similar causes of hair loss. It may reveal substances such as arsenic or lead, however.