Thinning Hair at the Back and Sides of My Head, Not Just on Top'

Name: Gemma

Question: I have female pattern baldness and my hair has been getting progressively thinner on top over the past year. In the past few months I have noticed that I'm losing more hair than usual combined with a general hair density issue all over my scalp. It feels like I am now losing hair from the back and sides of my head as well as on top, and the amount I am losing has increased. I have not started using any kind of treatment but now I am definitely considering it as my hair is deteriorating rapidly.

Answer: Hi, Gemma. The first thing we would ask you to consider, based on the information you have provided here, is when you first became aware of this increased hair loss. Then, think back to what was happening in your life roughly three months before this.

If you are experiencing thinning hair at the back and sides of your scalp, this shedding is unrelated to Female Pattern Hair Loss as this only affects the follicles located along the top of the head, from hairline to crown.

It sounds likely that you are experiencing a temporary hair loss condition in addition to the permanent genetic hair loss you are already aware of. This is known as Telogen Effluvium and can not only cause shedding from the entire scalp, but - in doing so - it can make your existing Female Pattern Hair Loss appear worse.

Common causes of Telogen Effluvium tend to revolve around issues that cause stress, whether this is emotional or physical. Prime examples include feeling stressed or anxious, significant nutritional deficiencies, the presence of an underlying illness or taking prescription medication that lists hair loss as a side effect.

If there are any other symptoms that started around the time you started losing more hair, it is worth speaking to your GP about these and possibly having a blood test in case there is an undiagnosed illness that is causing this excessive hair fall. We would highly recommend asking for your iron and zinc levels to be checked at the same time; it is common for women, especially those with genetic hairloss, to be deficient in these nutrients, which can cause hair loss from Telogen Effluvium.

Once you have identified the cause, regular hair growth should resume within around three or four months. This should restore hair in the areas around the nape and sides of your scalp back to normal. Whilst you will continue to lose hair from the top of your head due to your diagnosis of genetic hair loss, the rate at which it sheds should slow down - though this is not always the case. Telogen Effluvium treatment can be explored and simultaneously combined with Female Pattern Hair Loss solutions, in many cases.

If you are interested in finding out more about established women's hair loss treatment options, a consultation with a specialist can provide you with personalised recommendations for clinically-proven medication and appropriate hair growth supporting products, based on their findings.

These range from home-use FDA-cleared low level light therapy (LLLT) devices, to highly-targeted Hair Vitalics for Women food supplements, formulated by Belgravia's hair growth experts.

They can also further discuss the possible causes of your hair loss with you, so you can hopefully avoid this happening again in the future.