Female pattern hair loss is not a serious medical condition. Therefore, treatment is not necessary. Patients who are emotionally impacted by the condition, however, may benefit from seeking treatment.

The only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to specifically treat female patten hair loss is minoxidil 2 percent solution. Minoxidil is sold without a prescription and is applied either by spray or in liquid drop form. It must be applied to the scalp twice daily for at least four months in order for it to be effective, though it does not work for everyone. Furthermore, using more of the product or applying it more often does not improve results.

Persistent use of minoxidil is necessary to maintain and increase new hair growth or hair loss will resume. Limited evidence suggests that the stronger minoxidil 5 percent solution used twice daily may be more effective than minoxidil 2 percent in treating women with female pattern hair loss. However, it may cause excessive facial hair growth as a side effect and is only specifically approved for treatment of pattern hair loss in men.

Minoxidil should not be used if any of the following circumstances apply to a patient’s hair loss:

• No family history of hair loss exists
  
• Hair loss is sudden or patchy (alopecia areata)
  
• Hair loss occurs because of childbirth
  
• The cause of hair loss is undetermined
  
• The patient is under 18 years of age
  
• The scalp is red, inflamed, infected, irritated or painful

In addition, minoxidil should not be used by women who use other scalp medication. Women with heart disease, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should consult a physician before using the drug.

Treatment with antiandrogens may be effective for some cases of female pattern hair loss. These medications perform a variety of functions that make them effective in treating female pattern hair loss in some patients, including:

• Reducing the quantity of androgens produced
  
• Blocking the transformation of androgens into dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
  
• Limiting the interaction of androgens with the hair follicle.

Some women who experience female pattern hair loss after menopause (end of menstruation) may benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT uses medications to replace the hormones lost during menopause.

Other medications that are used to treat male pattern hair loss have not been proven to work in women (e.g., finasteride).

An increasingly popular treatment option for female pattern hair loss is hair transplantation surgery. Originally developed to treat men, newer techniques are better suited to effectively treat female pattern hair loss safely and with results that appear natural. Hair transplantation surgery involves the removal of small pieces of hair-growing scalp (grafts) from a “donor site” (usually the lower back or sides of the scalp) and moving them to a bald or thinning area. This may cause minor scarring in the donor area and carries with it a minor risk for skin infection. Once transplanted, the hair retains the characteristics from where it is taken and continues to grow.

Additional treatments for female pattern hair loss, such as hair weaving, hairpieces, or changes in styling may effectively hide hair loss and improve appearance in some patients. Methods such as these are often less expensive than the alternatives and pose virtually no risk of side effects.

Female pattern hair loss can not be prevented or predicted, though individuals with a family history of hair loss are more likely to be affected. Minoxidil and/or antiandrogen therapy may be effective at slowing, stopping or regrowing hair in some patients once hair loss has begun, but it is not considered effective prevention from the onset of the disease.