Hair loss book focuses on female androgenetic alopecia
- By Jeremy Harkin
- Published 3rd October, 2008
- Hair News
- Unrated
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.
An American public relations specialist has written a book about hair loss. 'Breaking the Silence on Women's Hair Loss' explores Candace Hoffmann's own experiences with androgenetic alopecia - commonly called male or female pattern baldness.
"Hair loss can be life-altering," said Hoffmann, 57. "I've gotten to the stage of my life where I've made peace with it, but it can be very isolating. For many women, it's like having a disfigurement. It takes a lot to get over it, to build up your self-esteem enough to say, 'I am more than my hair,' especially in this society where you can't go five minutes without seeing a TV commercial for some hair product."
Androgenetic alopecia often affects women by causing thinning over the top and front of the scalp, as opposed to the receding hairlines and baldness seen in men.
Rather than confess their hair loss condition to others, women often go to great lengths to hide it.
Hoffmann said her hair loss first became noticeable in her teenage years and the condition worsened after she went through menopause. Rather than going into hiding, though, she cut her hair short and wrote a book about the condition.
The reason for writing the book, Hoffmann said, was to dispel the feeling among women with hair loss that they somehow brought their condition upon themselves.
"Hair loss can be life-altering," said Hoffmann, 57. "I've gotten to the stage of my life where I've made peace with it, but it can be very isolating. For many women, it's like having a disfigurement. It takes a lot to get over it, to build up your self-esteem enough to say, 'I am more than my hair,' especially in this society where you can't go five minutes without seeing a TV commercial for some hair product."
Androgenetic alopecia often affects women by causing thinning over the top and front of the scalp, as opposed to the receding hairlines and baldness seen in men.
Rather than confess their hair loss condition to others, women often go to great lengths to hide it.
Hoffmann said her hair loss first became noticeable in her teenage years and the condition worsened after she went through menopause. Rather than going into hiding, though, she cut her hair short and wrote a book about the condition.
The reason for writing the book, Hoffmann said, was to dispel the feeling among women with hair loss that they somehow brought their condition upon themselves.