Anagen hairs may fail to replace telogen hairs in early androgenic female alopecia

Male baldness develops because of an increased duration of the lag phase.

To assess if this occurs also in balding women we studied 2 women with Ludwig type I-II patterned baldness for 2 years with monthly phototrichograms. Hairs were identified as thick anagen hairs, thin anagen hairs and telogen hairs.

Most of the hairs followed the expected development, namely they remained thick anagen hairs or they became thick from thin anagen, telogen from thick anagen or thin anagen from telogen hairs. Other hairs, though, became thin from thick anagen or telogen from thin anagen or thick anagen from telogen hairs. Still others did not regrow immediately after being in the telogen phase, leaving an empty space. Some empty spaces were not refilled for a long time. As in men, in balding women tiny bald spots develop corresponding to telogen hairs not replaced in due time.