Female Pattern Baldness (FPB, also called Androgenetic Alopecia) is responsible for 95% of hair loss cases in women. Because most people associate hair loss with the aging male, most women don’t know much about FPB.

A number of hair loss myths have been circulating over the years, causing women to change all sorts of behaviors linked to their hair loss. Before you start changing your routine in order to prevent hair loss, it’d be a good idea to be aware of the falsities generated by the following myths.

Myth: FPB is much less common than Male Pattern Baldness.

Androgenetic Alopecia occurs almost equally in men and women (40% of women and 50% of men by age 50).

Myth: Frequent washing, blow-drying, dying or other hair treatments can increase hair loss in FPB.

The only form of damage that causes hair loss is damage to the live part of the hair which lies below the scalp. Hair outside of the scalp is composed of dead cells and therefore cannot be damaged with common hair treatments. Hair may become brittle and less likely to break, but it will not fall out at the root due to hair treatments.

Myth: Wearing wigs or hats increases hair loss from FPB.

This myth was most likely started when people began to notice that a large majority of hat-wearers are balding. However, it’s usually the hair loss that causes hat-wearing and not the other way around. The only hats (or other headwear) that could cause temporary hair loss are those which fit very tightly to the head, which can cause what’s known as Traction Alopecia.

Myth: FPB is passed down from the mother’s side.

FPB can be passed down from either side of the family.

Myth: FPB can result from poor blood flow to the scalp.

If you have poor blood flow to any part of your head, you have bigger problems to worry about than hair loss (stroke, anyone?). This myth has been used simply as a way to sell hair growth products. No amount of standing on your head to increase blood flow will stop the process of hair loss.

Myth: FPB can be caused by plugged hair follicles.

Also not true; the worst thing you’re likely to experience with a plugged hair follicle is an ingrown hair.

Myth: If you start experiencing FPB, shaving all hair off can make it grow back thicker.

Sadly, no; FPB results from a change in hair follicles, which have little or no connection to how long hair is.

Myth: FPB isn’t caused by the same thing which causes Male Pattern Baldness since men bald differently than women.

Both Male and Female Pattern Baldness are caused by the attachment of DHT to androgen receptors on hair follicles. It is a fact that men bald differently. However, men and women bald differently because of the distribution of androgen receptors and enzymes responsible for converting testosterone into DHT.

Find a natural solution for hair loss here.

Sources:
http://www.healthology.net/hair-loss/video2200.htm?pg=3
http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Debunking-Hair-Loss-Myths.asp
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/hairloss/a/hairloss.htm
http://www.ahlc.org/causes-f.htm