A receding hairline is most commonly associated with men. But it can also show up in women, although hair loss in this area is less common than in other areas of the scalp. Women usually have hair loss along the hairline due to health conditions as opposed to androgenic alopecia–the cause of male and female pattern hair loss. Here is what you need to know about receding hairlines in females and what you can do about it.
What causes a receding hairline?
A receding hairline is when you see hair loss along the front of your scalp. Sometimes it can look patchy, whereas other times, it can be a clean line moving back on your head.
The most common cause of a receding hairline is androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern hair loss. A receding hairline is one of the biggest signs of androgenic alopecia in men, but that is not the case in women. Instead, women are more likely to have hair loss from this condition manifesting in thinning along the part line and above the temples.
A receding hairline in women is often the result of a few different factors, including genetics, hormone changes, scalp infections, medications, surgery, and stress.
Hormones and hairlines
There are different stages in a woman’s life where hormone fluctuations may cause a receding hairline. Perhaps the most well-known hormone shift causing hair loss is pregnancy and postpartum. When a woman is pregnant, temporary changes in hormone levels stall the hair growth cycle, causing little hair to shed during the course of pregnancy. Once a woman gives birth, the shift in hormones and the stressors of welcoming a new baby cause a larger number of hair follicles to enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. Eventually, these follicles shed for new ones to grow. But the hair (and hairline) can be thin for several months as new hair starts to grow.
Another common hormonal change in women is menopause. At this point in a woman’s life, it is common to see some hair thinning related to hormones. However, this is also the time in which androgenic alopecia may kick in, but again, a receding hairline will be less common in this condition.
Medical conditions and receding hairlines
Perhaps the other most common cause of receding hairlines in women is due to an underlying medical condition. Women are at a much greater risk for autoimmune disorders like lupus and Hashimoto’s. An autoimmune disorder is where a person’s own immune system attacks their own tissues. The cause of autoimmune disease is complex and not well understood and treating these conditions can be equally complicated. Hair thinning is a common side effect of autoimmune diseases and can occur due to generalized inflammation or may even be the result of the autoimmune attacking hair follicles (such as in alopecia areata).
Ovarian tumors, infectious diseases, and chronic health conditions like an underactive thyroid can also cause hair thinning and subsequently receding hairlines in women.
What to do if you are a female with a receding hairline
Because a receding hairline in females is most commonly associated with an underlying physiological shift or medical condition, it is important to consult your health care provider. A receding hairline may be temporary for many women, such as those in postpartum or women under significant stress. But underlying health conditions such as thyroid problems, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications may lead to more permanent and chronic hair loss.
Your doctor may need to do blood work and other tests to diagnose the cause of your hairline. If you do have a health condition like a thyroid problem, treatment can often help reverse hair loss.
If your hair loss is temporary, or you are getting treatment for an underlying health problem, you can consider using products designed for women with hair loss to help stimulate healthy growth. Reach out to a Product Advisor at DS Laboratories to see what products will best help you achieve your hair goals.