Most people think about men when they think about hair loss issues, but many women suffer from the condition too. It is estimated that around eight million women in the UK are affected by baldness.

The latest newsletter from the Mayo Clinic, a renowned medical centre in the USA, has focused on female baldness. The April issue concentrates on androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern baldness, which causes hair on women to thin and fall out.

There are many treatments currently available to treat baldness but the process of losing their hair can be particularly upsetting, especially for women, as it is less socially acceptable than male baldness. This was attested to by TV presenter Gail Porter, who famously suffers from alopecia. She has said: “People stared. Sometimes I held my head up high and other times I just didn't want to go out”.

Alopecia areata is another type of baldness, which affects one per cent of women, mostly young adults and teenagers. This condition is linked to immune system issues and although not seen as treatable, for the most part those suffering from this condition can take heart that their hair is likely to grow back eventually.