How Can Alopecia Affect Both Men and Women?

Alopecia is a condition that triggers baldness in men and women. It weakens the hair and makes it harder to grow, with existing hair strands becoming fragile. It is an uncomfortable condition that many people can experience, but it doesn’t have to be a burden in your life anymore. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jean-Denis Boucher and the expert team at Lone Star State Dermatology Clinic in San Antonio and Live Oak, TX can help.

Alopecia can impact men and women differently, but it can still result in hair loss and baldness. Here’s a look at how it differs between the sexes and how we can help patients with this condition.

How alopecia impacts men

Alopecia occurs when the immune system attacks healthy hair follicles. Hair starts to fall from the scalp, producing various patches of bald skin around a man’s head.

A man can become bald after experiencing higher DHT levels. A man’s body will produce enzymes that convert testosterone to DHT, a derivative of testosterone that can bind to and shrink hair follicles. The condition causes healthy hair strands to die because the follicles provide support.

A man will start to notice bald spots and thinning patches that first appear around the front part of the scalp and on the crown.

How alopecia impacts women

Alopecia also impacts women in a similar way, as the testosterone in the woman’s body will be converted to DHT. But since a woman’s body doesn’t have as much testosterone as a man's body, her hair will experience a slightly different impact.

While a woman’s hair follicles will be damaged, the hair will become thin. The thinning causes the hair to become lighter in tone and harder to manage. Hair strands can break off with ease as they become thin.

The front part of the hairline will recede the same way as a man’s hairline would. But it will not produce complete baldness in a woman like it would for a man. The hair will thin, take longer to grow, and become more fragile.

How is alopecia treated?

Alopecia treatments are available at Lone Star State Dermatology Clinic in San Antonio and Live Oak, TX. Dr. Boucher and the rest of the team can review your alopecia issue and identify a suitable treatment for your hair.

Low-level laser therapy can help restore the follicles and produce healthy hair. PRP therapy can also utilize proteins from your body to trigger the growth of new hair and the restoration of follicles. You can schedule an appointment with us to help find the treatment option that is right for your needs.

Get started in restoring your hair with us

Your hair loss from alopecia doesn’t have to be a problem, regardless of your gender. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jean-Denis Boucher at Lone Star State Dermatology Clinic in San Antonio or Live Oak, TX to help find a treatment plan that will help you strengthen your hair and keep your alopecia from being a problem in your life. Visit us online to learn more about alopecia treatment and how we can help if you have alopecia in San Antonio.