Peer Reviewed
Clinical case review

Excessive scalp hair thinning in a middle aged woman

Rodney Sinclair
Abstract
Is bilateral recession and major hair loss in the central scalp region in a postmenopausal woman a case of female pattern hair loss?
Key Points
    Case scenario

    Vera is a 56-year-old woman who has been concerned about the excessive thinning of her scalp hair over the preceding 12 months. Examination revealed that she has a receding hairline bilaterally and major hair loss over her central scalp.

    Her scalp appears healthy, she is otherwise well, her thyroid function tests are normal and she passed through a trouble-free menopause five years previously. She takes no medications.

    Why is this happening to Vera and can she be helped to regrow her hair?