Female Pattern Baldness Affects Up To Half Of All Women. Here's What You Need To Know

Men aren’t the only ones who experience thinning hair in their lifetimes. (Photo: Flickr/Tinker*Tailor loves Lalka)

You may have inherited your father’s blue eyes — and your mother’s thinning hair.

If the condition runs in your family and you’ve noticed your hair looks thinner than it did a few years ago, you may have the beginning stages of female pattern baldness. The condition is surprisingly common — up to half of women will experience it by the time they reach 50 years old, research shows. It can start early on in life during puberty, around age 12, or later on in adulthood, around age 40.

Whether you’re currently experiencing thinning hair or suspect you’re in for it in the coming years, it’s important to arm yourself with the necessary knowledge so you know what to expect — and how to slow the process down. Below, find seven facts about female pattern hair loss every woman should know:

Genetics Dictate Your Hair Growth

Each hair on your head has stem cells that have specific instructions for how long or short to grow hair, Anthony Oro, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at Stanford School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Health. That’s why the hair on top of your head grows longer than, say, your eyebrows — they simply have different growth instructions. “That is a genetic program given to you at birth,” notes Oro. These stem cells also have a genetically determined number of times that they can make a new hair, growing a certain amount of hairs per month. Then the hair stops growing, falls out, and is typically replaced with a new one. With female pattern baldness, the new hairs that grow in become shorter, miniaturized hairs over time — making hair look thinner overall.

The First Signs Of Female Pattern Baldness Are Different Than Men

Male pattern baldness typically starts with a thinning hairline that recedes like a tide, progressing to an M-shape and then a U-shape. But with female pattern baldness, the hairline is rarely affected. Instead, you may first notice that your part looks wider than before, which is caused by the hair thinning at the top of the scalp. In some cases, thinning can also strike near the temples. It’s rare that the hair loss ever advances to total baldness in women, unlike in men.

Related: 10 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe About Hair Loss In Women

Thinning Hair Has Less Luster

In an unfair triple whammy, thinning hair also becomes dry and less shiny. “The outer part of the hair follicle gets thinner and doesn’t keep as much moisture, so the hair dries out,” says Oro. “It becomes more brittle and more susceptible to damage from the sun, so it’s easier to break.” You also loose the hair follicle’s outer cuticle over time, which leaves hair looking dull.

Menopause Accelerates Hair Loss

During menopause, the delicate balance of male and female hormones is thrown off. “Estrogens drop and the adrenal gland pumps out more male hormones,” says Oro. Unchecked, the male hormone androgen, particularly one called dihydrotestosterone, shortens the hair growth cycle, leads to the growth of thinner and shorter hair, and delays the formation of new hair to replace the ones that fall out.

Related: 9 Sneaky Hair Loss Culprits

What You Eat (Or Don’t Eat) Can Speed Hair Loss

Low hormone levels, iron deficiency, poor nutrition, UV damage, and harsh chemicals — from straightening or bleaching your locks — can all accelerate hair loss, making thinning more noticeable.

There Aren’t Many Effective Treatments, But There Is One That Works

The gold standard, FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss is minoxidil, which stops strands from thinning and may help regrow hair at the top of the scalp. The 2 percent concentration is usually recommended for women. “It slows down the clock,” says Oro. “If you stop using the medicine, the clock just keeps going.”

Treat Your Hair Right To Keep The Locks You Have

Oro recommends eating a healthy and balanced diet to nourish hair, and protecting your locks from the sun by wearing a sunhat or spraying on hair sunscreen. He also suggests avoiding harsh chemical treatments that damage already-fragile strands, and using a gentle shampoo and conditioner that put much-needed moisture and shine back into the hair. While these steps can’t reverse thinning hair, they help maintain the strands you already have and can help prevent more loss in the future.

Up Next: Why Men Are Going Bald Younger — and 8 Ways to Stop the Shedding