Why is Hair Loss More Common Among Men than Women?

Some studies and reports on hair loss indicate that this condition may be common among women as well as men, but we just don’t notice it with women. One of the primary reasons is that men lose larger amounts of hair at one time or consistently over a period of time. This is attributed to the commonly known “male-pattern baldness.” A woman may be losing hair as well but it happens in smaller amounts, sometimes one hair at a time so that it eventually looks thinner.

One good way to get a vision of how this occurs is to look at hair loss in men happening on the top of the head and the crown toward the back of the head. Women, in contrast, lose smaller numbers of individual hairs across the whole head. Differences in hormones and distinct enzymes in male and female bodies account for the distinct ways that men and women lose hair. Research shows that some women have more testosterone in their systems and they will lose hair more visibly. Testosterone is commonly recognized as the male hormone.

There is another step to the hair-loss process though. Human beings who are normally healthy will shed hair and grow it again over a long period of time. If this process is interrupted or changed significantly, due to hormone levels or illness for example, hair loss can accelerate and healthy hair won’t grow back.

Hair loss in women can be so slow, and occur in such small amounts, that many women don’t notice the loss until it reaches a certain point. If they are brushing or putting their hair in a ponytail, for example, this may provide the first evidence that there isn’t as much there as before. Men lose hair in large amounts and sometimes more rapidly so they don’t have to “wait” for one specific time to notice that their hair is disappearing.

Women sometimes lose hair in a more dramatic fashion after pregnancy. This difference is attributable to changes in hormone levels. In most cases the woman’s natural hair-loss and replacement cycle returns a few months after child birth.

It’s also well known that some hairstyles, hats or headgear can contribute to abnormal hair loss. It’s been said that men who wear military helmets may be contributing to advanced hair loss. Women who consistently pull at their hair to make a ponytail or with rollers may also be speeding the process along.

Even with all this considered men lose hair in a more dramatic fashion due to common “male-pattern baldness.” A few people may be familiar with the more formal term of androgenic alopecia. This is generally inherited from parents and grandparents.

It may be possible to slow hair loss, though more dramatic changes such as restoring lost hair probably require replacement procedures. Sometimes a doctor can uncover medical problems, diet problems or stressful situations that may be contributing to baldness. There are treatments available for restoring hair that has been loss for specific reasons.