Female Hair Loss in the Back of Neck

(female)
Dear Dr. Rassman,

The hair on the back of my neck is disappearing and I have no idea why. It started in the end of January 2009. It’s getting thinner from the middle and outwards and creates a parting in the shape of a crooked L (down and off to the side. The hair at the very base is short and thinner and doesn’t seem to grow (at least not very long terminal) I’m not sure if this description is enough for you, but I am at a loss of what to do! Do you think this will subside with time and then the hair will grow back again? I know neck hair tends to grow slower.

Neck hair genetics are different than scalp hair genetics and unfortunately there is little that can be done other than the possible use of minoxidil. I do not believe that I have seen anything written in the medical literature on the loss of female neck hair, but there are many men who show it so why not women? Send me a series of photos and maybe I will understand more of your problem.

• What is your age and state of health?
• Are you taking birth control pills or other medications that can cause hair loss?
• Could it be that you had a tight hair style that pulled on the hairs at the base of the skull, causing traction alopecia?

You get the idea here — a single description of a problem without my ability to ask questions with a good medical history leaves me in a difficult position to help. Consider a visit to my office and then at the least, I can perform my usual extensive examination of your scalp and neck.