Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is also sometimes referred to as androgenetic alopecia. Ordinarily, the human head will shed between 100 and 150 hairs a day. Beyond this and the hair loss may become noticeable.

In FPHL, after a hair is shed, the hair that grows back is not as strong. This process continues until there is merely vellus hair, which is fine hair which is barely noticeable. FPHL can occur any time after puberty, but generally affects women who have gone through the menopause.

FPHL can be divided into mild and severe cases. Mild FPHL is not uncommon and is inherited through a person’s genes. As the hair loss is relatively minor, it can usually be addressed using only scalp make-up and hair style. You can get help and advice with this.

Severe FPHL is usually insufficient to warrant a wig, but as it is more noticeable, there are significant psychological effects for the sufferer. Alternatives to a wig are the Intralace and Medi Connections systems. These offer a greatly effective means of treating effects of this level of hair loss.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a genetically inherited condition where either naturally shed hairs grow back weaker or hairs are shed with greater frequency than normal. It can be either mild or severe.

There are a number of treatment options available for FPHL and what is best for you will most likely depend on the severity of the condition. Mild cases can be treated with nothing more than scalp make-up and hair styling. For more severe cases, there are hair replacement options as well as medical treatments.

Minoxidil is a popular treatment. It is a lotion that is applied to the scalp which promotes the growth of hair. Weaker versions can be bought over the counter, but if you decide to go for this option, it is recommended that you get a stronger five per cent solution that is only available on prescription.

Spironolactone is another option. This is medication that can be taken orally and has shown good results in terms of hair growth improvement for many people.

Other treatments that have been used but about which not much is know include propecia and anti-androgens, including dianette, which has shown signs of slowing FPHL.

One of the major problems of trichotillomania, the compulsion to pull out hairs to calm yourself, is that many sufferers are ashamed of what they do and therefore fail to seek help. This makes it difficult to establish how many people are affected by it, but it is thought to be between two and four per cent of the population, albeit to differing degrees.

Despite this, it is little-known and even many medical practictioners are unaware of it. If you see your GP and they seem unsympathetic, you do have other options. You can arrange to see a qualified dermatologist or a trichologist independently.

Many sufferers describe how isolating the condition can be, saying that they feel like only they are afflicted. It can also lead to further stress if the person feels they are causing their family distress through pulling out their hair, leading to a vicious circle.

There are many different triggers for the condition. It can be stress-related or as a result of emotional trauma. The act of pulling out hairs is calming, giving rise to an endorphin release, which can lead to a form of addiction. It is often the case that the hair is pulled out without the person even knowing that they are doing it.

Scientific studies have shown that hair loss in women produces greater levels of psychological trauma for the sufferer than for men. Whilst losing such an intrinsic part of your physical appearance can be distressing for both sexes, hair has much more significance for women.

What do women feel when they lose their hair?

Many women experience a massive drop in self-confidence when they lose their hair, as thick healthy hair is so often linked with beauty, youth and sexuality in today’s image-conscious society. Women pick up on this very easily, and it can be hard to shake off.

Some women worry about their attractiveness, whilst others – such as alopecia areata sufferers – feel frustrated that they can’t do anything to stop their hair falling out.

Social expectations

The other problem with female hair loss is the reactions of the people around the sufferer. Unlike male pattern baldness, hair loss in women is not seen as ‘normal’ and there is not such a strong support system in place for it.

Treatment

Female hair loss sufferers need not struggle alone with their condition. Thanks to increased awareness, there are now clinics which offer new and advanced treatments specially designed to help women manage or overcome their hair loss symptoms.

Gail Porter, the woman who is almost single-handedly responsible for raising public awareness of female hair loss has been honoured this week with an award for her charity work.

As most people know, Gail, a former TV presenter famed for her long, blonde locks, started losing her hair in 2005 when filming in the US. She was diagnosed with alopecia areata, which she believes was triggered by the stress of a divorce from then-husband Dan Hipgrave in late 2004.

Gail lost all of her hair, but refused to hide her condition with hats or wigs. She wanted to raise awareness of female hair loss and subsequently became an ambassador for the Little Princess Trust, a charity which supplies human hair wigs to children who have lost their hair after cancer treatment.

The former Live and Kicking presenter is also involved with numerous other charity projects such as breast cancer charity Pretty in Pink, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, Marie Curie Cancer Care and anti-poverty organisation Action Aid.

For all of her inspirational work and personal triumphs, Gail Porter has been nominated for the Entertainer of the Year award at the 2010 Bighearted Scotland Awards. The event will be held in September.

The Intralace Freewear system is suitable for women who are experiencing total hair loss. It serves as a superior alternative to a human hair wig.

When using a hair replacement system, it is usually necessary to have at least one spare, as back-up. However, this is not the case with the Freewear system. It is affixed using medical grade tape and also a liquid adhesive that is friendly to the skin. If you opt for the Freewear system, you can have a natural parting with it or natural side hair line panels which offer more flexibility in terms of styling – a fringe isn’t necessary and hair can also be tucked behind the ears with confidence.

With the Freewear system, you basically treat it as you would your own hair. You sleep in it and wash and dry it just as you would ordinarily. It is also straightforward enough for the user to replace the adhesive and medical tape themselves, so this can be done whenever necessary.

The Intralace Freewear system will typically last two or three years before it needs replacing and up until then, it offers an incredibly natural look that allows greater freedom and self-confidence.