The pattern of hair loss is different to the typical receding hairline and crown loss in men. Instead, there's usually a general thinning of the hair with loss predominantly over the top and sides of the head. It usually gets worse with the menopause.
Another common cause of hair loss in women is a condition called alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that affects more than two per cent of the population. In this, the hair follicles are attacked by white blood cells. The follicles then become very small and hair production slows down dramatically, so there may be no visible hair growth for months and years. After some time, hair may regrow as before, come back in patchy areas or not at all. The good news is that in every case the hair follicles remain alive and can be switched on again; the bad news is that we don't yet know how to do this.