Ludwig scale for diagnosis of hair loss in female (women)

Ludwig Scale is the the only scale measuring female pattern hair loss (overall thinning).
The following diagrams measure pattern loss typical in women. Pattern hair loss in women is typified by an overall thinning of density. Hair loss occurs over the entire top of the scalp and is not localized to the vertex. Although female pattern loss is typical in most women with pattern hair loss, it does not mean that they can not experience hair loss in a male pattern described by one of the other scales. Conversely, a small percentage of men also experience overall thinning typical of female pattern loss.

hair loss
  • Ludwig 1-1
    The central parting of a woman with no hair loss.
  • Ludwig 1-2 1-3 1-4
    The width of the parting gets progressively wider indicating thinner hair along the center of scalp.
  • Ludwig 2-1 2-2
    Diffuse thinning of the hair over the top of the scalp.
  • Ludwig 3
    A woman with extensive diffuse hair loss on top of the scalp, but some hair does survive.
  • Ludwig Advanced
    A woman with extensive hair loss and little to no surviving hair in the alopecia affected area. Very few women ever reach this stage and if they do it is usually because they have a condition that causes significant, abnormally excessive androgen hormone production.
  • Ludwig Frontal
    A woman with a pattern of hair loss that is described as "frontally accentuated". That means there is more hair loss at the front and center of the hair parting instead of just in the top middle of the scalp.