Female Hair Loss

Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Hair is way more than a bundle of fibers. It’s an expression of your style and personality. Whether it’s short- or long-term, women lose hair the same way men do.

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), this condition affects roughly 33 percent of all women who are at higher risk for the condition. Hair loss in women is a normal process, especially as you age, with most women experiencing hair loss after menopause. More than half of women ages 65 and older will experience some degree of hair loss.

In female pattern baldness, the hair’s growth phase slows down. It also takes longer for new hair to begin growing. Hair follicles shrink, leading the hair that grows to be thinner and finer. This can result in hair that easily breaks. It might thin all over, or your center part could get wider and wider. You might even get a bald spot at the crown of your head. One thing women rarely have: is a receding front hairline.

Causes Of Female Hair Loss

Genetic: Androgenetic alopecia is female pattern baldness or hair loss caused by genetics. It’s the leading cause of hair loss in women and generally begins between the ages of 12 to 40 years old.
Menopause: Menopause is a natural biological process that all women experience at some point in their lives. Hair loss during menopause is the result of a hormonal imbalance. It’s related to a lowered production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help hair grow faster and stay on the head for longer periods of time. When the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens or a group of male hormones. Androgens shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Your body makes more male hormones, or androgen than it should. This can cause extra hair to sprout on your face and body while the hair on your head thins out.
Alopecia Areata: The culprit is your own immune system, which attacks healthy hair follicles by mistake. In most cases, the damage isn’t permanent. The missing locks should grow back in 6 months to a year.

Childbirth: You might notice your hair seems fuller during pregnancy. That’s because high hormone levels keep resting hairs from falling out. But after the baby comes, things go back to normal and those strands will fall out quickly. You could lose a lot of hair at once. It could take up to 2 years for your locks to return to normal.
The Pill: The hormones that suppress ovulation could cause your hair to thin. It’s more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. It might happen when you stop taking the pill. Other drugs linked to hair loss include blood thinners and medicines that treat high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and depression.
Crash Diets: If you drop 15 pounds or more, you might also shed some hair. Don’t worry too much — it’ll return when you’re back on a healthy diet.
Tight Hairstyles: Wearing cornrows or tight ponytails can irritate your scalp and cause hair to fall out. The same goes for using tight rollers. Be aware that long-term use of these styles can scar your scalp and lead to permanent hair loss.
Thyroid Problems: If this butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck makes too much or too little thyroid hormone, your hair growth cycle might take a hit.
Ringworm: When the ringworm fungus affects your scalp, it triggers a distinct hair loss pattern — itchy, round bald patches. They might look scaly and red.
Extreme Stress: High-level physical or emotional stress can cause you to suddenly shed huge amounts of hair. e.g.Serious illness or major surgery, Trauma involving blood loss, Severe emotional distress

Common symptoms

Gradual thinning of hair on top of the head
Sudden loosening of hair
Patchy bald spots on the scalp

How to prevent hair loss?

Avoid hairstyles that pull on the hair
Avoid high-heat hair styling tools
Don’t chemically treat or bleach your hair
Use a shampoo that’s mild and suited for your hair
Use a soft brush made from natural fibers

Treatment Options For Hair Loss

Topical Minoxidil Solution

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that can be used for men or women with alopecia areata or androgenic alopecia. FDA approved drugs come in foam or liquid form and are spread on the scalp each day. It may cause new growth faster and thick than before. You may also need to use it for 6 months or more to prevent further loss and promote regrowth.

Possible side effects include scalp irritation, hair growth on other parts of the face or hands that come in contact with the medication, tachycardia (rapid heart rate).

Light And Laser Therapy

Laser devices stimulate hair growth for people with androgenic alopecia and pattern balding. Can be applied two to three times a week for 8-15 minutes. It may take several weeks to a few months before seeing results. Laser devices use laser energy to directly revitalize and stimulate hair follicles,working to promote the growth of new healthy hair with low-level laser therapy (LLLT).

The laser devices help increase blood circulation in the follicle to support natural hair growth.Regular use of LLLT stops hair loss and promotes hair regrowth FDA-cleared LLLT devices were safe and effective in those who did not respond to standard hair loss treatments.

Nutritional Supplements

Foods rich in vitamin A (e.g.sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, spinach), whole grains, almonds, fish, and meat rich in vitamin B ,Vitamin C rich foods (guavas, and citrus fruits), Iron and zinc supplements play a role in the development of healthy hair.

Platelet-rich Plasma (Prp) Therapy

PRP therapy involves withdrawing your own blood and centrifuges to separate red blood cells from the plasma. The plasma containing growth factors is injected back into your scalp. PRP triggers natural growth by increasing blood supply to the hair follicles which increases the thickness of the hair shaft. This PRP hair restoration therapy can be combined with other medical procedures for the effective growth of hair.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a procedure that stimulates thin hair and dormant hair roots to grow by injecting nutrient-rich liquid into the dermis. A mixture of nutrient boosters that consists of minerals,peptides and stem cells is used to stimulate hair growth and reverse the process of hair loss. This provides nourishment and creates some microtrauma at the scalp causing skin to secrete growth factors at hair root sites. This boosts the germinating cells of hair roots to create stronger hair. It is a painless procedure and recovery is quick.

Hair Transplant

Hair transplant also works for female hair loss. Especially females who have traction alopecia, receding hairline, vertex thinning, and a stable donor area, Alopecia marginalis. Females should be 30 years and above as by then they have good stability in hair fall.

Takeaway

If you are experiencing hair loss, remember that you’re far from alone. At HFHG clinic, our expertised team of doctors will provide you thorough information about your condition and will prescribe the best suited treatment option for you. Feel free to consult for your problems.