The hair follicles are constantly cycling between growth and rest. The growth phase will determine the length of the hair.
In FPB there is progressive hair follicle miniaturisation and changes to the hair regrowth cycle. Genetics usually plays a part in the development of female pattern hair loss. A woman can inherit the genes that cause female pattern baldness from one or both of their parents. It’s also possible that hormones contribute to the condition. For example, hair loss is a symptom of the hormonal condition, polycystic ovary syndrome.
Female pattern baldness can develop at any age. It usually progresses slowly, but can also come in bursts. It often becomes more noticeable after menopause. FPB is different from alopecia areata, which is an auto-immune disease resulting in hair loss from the scalp and other parts of the body.