Female Hair Loss: Why It Happens and How It Can Be Treated
Female hair loss is far more common than many people realise. It can be emotionally distressing, difficult to talk about and often misunderstood. At The Sana Clinic, female hair loss is treated as a medical concern first, not simply a cosmetic one.
The aim is to understand why the shedding or thinning is happening, assess the scalp properly and create a personalised treatment plan that supports long-term hair health.
How common is female pattern hair loss?
Female pattern hair loss is the most common type of non-scarring hair loss in women. It is thought to affect up to 50% of women over the course of their lifetime, with frequency increasing with age.
Unlike male pattern hair loss, it often presents as diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp, widening of the parting or reduced density around the crown, while the front hairline may remain relatively preserved.
Because it can develop gradually, many women do not seek help until the thinning has become more noticeable. Early assessment is important because treatment is usually more effective when follicles are still active.
Why does female hair loss happen?
Female hair loss can happen for several reasons, and more than one factor may be present at the same time.
Common causes include female pattern hair loss, postpartum shedding, stress-related telogen effluvium, iron deficiency, thyroid imbalance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, nutritional deficiency, rapid weight loss, medication changes, scalp inflammation and traction from tight hairstyles or extensions.
Female pattern hair loss is usually influenced by genetic and hormonal factors. The affected follicles gradually miniaturise, producing hairs that become thinner, shorter and lighter over time. In some women, this may be linked with raised androgen activity, which is why conditions such as PCOS can sometimes contribute.
What is postpartum hair loss?
Postpartum hair loss is commonly linked to telogen effluvium. During pregnancy, hormonal changes can keep more hairs in the growth phase. After childbirth, hormone levels shift and a larger number of hairs may enter the shedding phase at the same time.
This can feel alarming, but it is often temporary. However, postpartum shedding can also unmask underlying female pattern hair loss, low iron, thyroid issues or nutritional depletion, which is why persistent shedding should be assessed properly.
How is female hair loss assessed at The Sana Clinic?
Every treatment plan begins with a doctor-led consultation. Dr Sana will assess your medical history, medications, hormones, stress, nutrition, pregnancy history, menstrual history, scalp symptoms and family history.
A trichoscope may be used to examine the scalp and hair follicles in detail. This allows hair density, follicle quality and miniaturisation to be assessed more objectively, rather than relying only on photographs or how the hair feels.
Blood tests may also be recommended where clinically appropriate, particularly if there are signs of iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalance or inflammatory scalp disease.
How can PRP help female hair loss?
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. These platelets contain growth factors that may support follicle activity, improve scalp health and help reduce shedding in suitable patients.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 randomised controlled trials involving 1,877 participants found moderate evidence that PRP can improve hair density, reduce hair loss and improve clinical outcomes, although protocols vary between studies.
PRP is often most useful when hair follicles are still active, which is why early intervention matters.
What about PRF?
PRF, or platelet-rich fibrin, is a newer generation platelet-based treatment. Like PRP, it uses components from your own blood, but the fibrin matrix may allow a slower and more sustained release of growth factors.
Evidence for PRF in hair loss is still emerging, but a 2025 study of injectable PRF in androgenetic alopecia reported an 80% response rate at six months, with improvements in hair density, scalp symptoms and patient satisfaction.
At The Sana Clinic, PRP and PRF are prepared using Dr Sana’s proprietary protocol, focused on obtaining high-quality concentration and delivering treatment precisely.
Can polynucleotides help female hair loss?
Polynucleotides are regenerative injectable treatments that support tissue repair, reduce inflammation, encourage angiogenesis and help improve the environment around the hair follicle.
Research is newer than PRP, but early published data is encouraging. A 2025 study of 28 patients with androgenetic alopecia treated with four polynucleotide injections at four-week intervals found significant improvements in hair diameter and density. Patient assessment scores showed improvement in 82.1% of cases, with no serious side effects reported.
For female hair loss, polynucleotides may be considered as part of a wider regenerative plan, particularly where scalp quality, follicle support and inflammation control are important.
What medications can improve female hair loss?
Medication can be a very important part of female hair loss treatment.
Topical minoxidil is one of the best-studied treatments. In a 48-week randomised controlled trial of 381 women with female pattern hair loss, 5% topical minoxidil was superior to placebo across the study’s main hair-growth measures.
Low-dose oral minoxidil may also be considered in selected patients, although this is prescribed off-label and requires proper medical assessment. A pilot study of 100 women treated with low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone reported reduced hair loss severity and reduced shedding over 12 months, with generally mild side effects.
Spironolactone, finasteride and dutasteride may be considered in selected women, particularly where hormonal or androgen-related hair loss is suspected. These medications are not suitable for everyone and require careful discussion around pregnancy, contraception, side effects and medical history.
Why is a combined approach often best?
Female hair loss rarely has one single cause. That is why the best treatment plans often combine regenerative procedures with medical management, scalp care and lifestyle optimisation.
For example, a patient may benefit from PRP or PRF to support follicle activity, polynucleotides to improve scalp environment, minoxidil to stimulate growth and medical-grade shampoos or conditioners to support scalp health.
The right combination depends on the diagnosis.
When should I seek help?
You should consider assessment if you notice increased shedding, widening of the parting, reduced ponytail thickness, thinning at the crown, scalp visibility, post-pregnancy shedding that is not settling, or hair loss associated with irregular periods, acne, facial hair, fatigue, weight change or scalp symptoms.
Early diagnosis can make a significant difference.
If you are concerned about female hair loss, book a consultation with Dr Sana at The Sana Clinic in Marylebone or Canary Wharf to discuss a bespoke, evidence-informed treatment plan.
References
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Female pattern hair loss: prevalence and management. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries.
British Association of Dermatologists. Female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia. Patient Information Leaflet.
Anitua E, Tierno R, Alkhraisat MH. Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Evidence. Dermatology and Therapy. 2025;15:3213–3252.
Yao S, Chen X, Li S, Zhou L, Bai Q, Zhao C, et al. New tool in our arsenal: efficacy of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in androgenetic alopecia treatment. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025;317:493.
Thanasarnaksorn W, Limsuchaiwat N, Sirithanabadeekul P, Charoensuksira S, Suwanchinda A, Meephansan J. Polynucleotides as a novel therapeutic approach in androgenetic alopecia: an analysis of effectiveness and safety. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025;317:399.
Lucky AW, Piacquadio DJ, Ditre CM, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 5% and 2% topical minoxidil solutions in the treatment of female pattern hair loss. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2004;50(4):541–553.
Sinclair R. Female pattern hair loss: a pilot study investigating combination therapy with low-dose oral minoxidil and spironolactone. International Journal of Dermatology. 2018;57(1):104–109.
Desai DD, Nohria A, Sikora M, Anyanwu N, Shapiro J, Lo Sicco KI. Comparative analysis of low-dose oral minoxidil with spironolactone versus finasteride or dutasteride in female androgenetic alopecia management. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2024;316:622.
