Male Pattern Hair Loss
In men, hair loss can begin any time after puberty and progress over the course of years or decades. It starts above the temples and continues around the perimeter and the top of the head, often leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Many men with male pattern hair loss eventually become bald.
What Causes Someones Hair To Thin Out Does This Vary In Men Versus Women
There are multiple reasons for hair thinning, but probably the most common one is androgenetic alopecia . It does affect men and women differently up to about 80% of men experience some degree of androgenetic alopecia, whereas, in women, its closer to about 50%. Its partly genetic and party hormone-driven, as well as age-related.
Pcos Can Be A Trigger
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in women in which the body manufactures more androgens, or male hormones, than it normally should. It is a potential cause of hormonal hair loss in women. Women who suffer from this condition may grow facial hair and extra body hair. One of the other symptoms of this condition is thinning of hair on the head. Women affected with PCOS may also experience weight gain, acne, menstrual irregularities, ovulation problems, depression, and infertility. Hair thinning may be the only outward sign that a woman is suffering from this condition.
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Style Your Hair Right
Hair stylists are a great resource for help for hair loss in women. A new haircut or hairstyle may be just what you need to make your hair appear fuller. Ask your stylist for advice about getting a shorter cut, parting your hair in a different location, or adding curls or waves to add volume to your hair. Products for hair loss in women include using styling products designed for thin hair. Some products are added to the roots while hair is damp before blowing dry. Some cosmetic products can help disguise the appearance of bald spots. Keratin fiber hair cosmetics have a static charge that makes hair appear fuller than it is. Ask your stylist or dermatologist for recommendations about the products and strategies that will work best for you.
Where Is The Hair Loss
If you are noticing a receding hairline or loss specifically in the crown area, these can be signs of balding. A more random pattern or evenly spread loss of hair is usually an indicator of hair thinning.
If your hair seems to be falling out in patches, you could have alopecia, a condition that causes a person to lose patches of hair. Consult a doctor if you think this to be the case.
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Are There Certain Medications Procedures Or Home Remedies That Can Help Resolve Or Prevent Thinning Hair
Its very patient-specific, starting with the over-the-counter medications. There is an over-counter-medication called minoxidil or Rogaine, and there are multiple different formulations out there. This can be used to stabilize the hair loss, and you can potentially get some regrowth and some thickening of the hair.
There are also prescription medications such as finasteride and dutasteride. Finasteride has been around for much longer and is actually approved for hair loss. These prescription medications require some degree of monitoring because they can have side effects, like sexual dysfunction in men.
With over-the-counter options, there are men and women formulations, but then most of the prescription medications are primarily used in men. For women, there are some additional medications like spironolactone , but the efficacy is not great.
And the final thing thats out there are these light devices, whether in the form of caps or otherwise, which have shown some degree of efficacy in stabilizing hair loss and promoting regrowth.
In terms of home remedies, the first thing is, do no harm. You have to evaluate the home remedies and make sure theres nothing thats potentially harmful. But given that there is no data, its very hard to support one versus another.
Try Regular Scalp Massages
While some options might be expensive and require a professional, like hiring a dermatologist, there’s one approach to regrowth that can be done by yourself and won’t cost you a dime. Cervando says, “in most cases, frequent scalp massages can stimulate new hair growth.” Although the hair that grows back “won’t be super thick, scalp massages could help lightly fill in the area.” However, he does mention it won’t work in every case , but it’s worth trying. Friese agrees that “massaging the scalp at the hairline will increase circulation and encourage hair growth.”
When you massage your head, it’s important only to use the pads of your fingers don’t rake over this sensitive area with fingernails. Move fingers in a gentle, circular pattern for a few minutes every day. Try not to press down firmly on your hairline, as this can stunt growth.
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Prevent Male Pattern Baldness
As men age, its common for some hair follicles to shrivel and stop producing hair. This is referred to as hereditary hair loss, pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia.
Male pattern baldness is an inherited trait. It affects more than half of men over the age of 50 to some extent.
This type of hair loss is permanent and the hair cant be grown back. However, you may be able to slow down the hair loss with prescription medications. If male pattern baldness is a concern, speak with a doctor about the following options:
- an oral medication called finasteride
- a topical medication called minoxidil
Keep in mind that once the hair follicle shrivels, the hair likely wont grow back, even with treatment.
Thinning Hair In Women: Why It Happens And What Helps
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem.
Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss, says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When its not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.
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Childbirth May Be A Trigger
Moms-to-be are often very happy that their hair seems much fuller during pregnancy, but they are then disappointed when they experience hair loss after giving birth. Losing hair after pregnancy is not true hair loss and is normal. That’s because hormones and hair loss in women are linked. Hair falls out after women give birth due to decreasing estrogen levels. Some women notice that they lose a lot of hair in a short period of time after giving birth. The good news is that after this shedding period, hair fullness often returns to normal within 1 to 2 years. Many people wonder what’s the best treatment for hair loss in women? For postpartum moms waiting for their full head of hair to return, using over-the-counter volumizing shampoo and conditioner formulated for fine hair can make hair appear fuller.
How To Use Essential Oils In Hair
You can add 5 drops of an essential oil, like tea tree, directly into your shampoo or conditioner. Most commonly, you can make a hair mask by mixing a few drops of your favorite essential oil with a carrier oil and applying it to your hair . Leave the mixture on for at least 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Once mixed with a carrier oil, some essential oils, like and peppermint, can be applied directly to the scalp.
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Cancer Treatment Is A Trigger
Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer are some of the common causes of hair loss in women. Both therapies harm hair follicles in addition to killing cancer cells. People undergoing cancer treatment often experience dramatic hair loss as a result of these therapies. They may wake up with clumps of hair on their pillow or they may lose large amounts of hair in the shower. Rapid hair loss in women often starts within 2 weeks of beginning treatment. It may be worst between 1 to 2 months into therapy. The scalp may be extra sensitive during this time. It may be irritating to wash, brush, and comb hair. The good news is that once cancer treatment is over, hair tends to grow back.
Eliminate Allergies That Trigger Autoimmune Responses
In the section above I talked about how autoimmune responses can aggravate hair loss by increasing hair follicle sensitivity to DHT.In this section Ill show you how some of the foods you might be eating could be triggering an equally harmful response making it almost impossible for you to get back your hair.
Most people know about having fast allergic reactions to certain foods, the main ones being peanuts and shellfish. But most people arent aware that slow allergic reactions can also occur.There are certain foods and food groups which can cause these allergic reactions, and these allergies then go on to trigger autoimmune problems and inflammation both of which lead to hair loss.The main foods are:
- Deadly nightshades
- Eggs
The most common of these is gluten, so lets take a closer look at that. The other foods are much less common allergies but its still worth considering them as a possible cause for allergies. Most people have no problems with them in their diet.
The best way to tell if you have a food allergy is to do a 2 weeks allergy test. There are blood tests you can take, but I prefer this method because it teaches you to listen to the feedback your body is giving you about foods you are eating.
For two weeks completely eliminate gluten from your diet. I recommend doing this for at least two weeks since it will take a few days for the side effects of your previous gluten diet to wear off. Notice how you feel in the second week of the test.
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How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow Back After Waxing Or Shaving
When you shave your hair, youâre only removing the top part of the hair follicle. Hair will continue to grow right away and you might start seeing stubble within a day or two. When you wax, however, the entire hair root is removed from the follicle below the skinâs surface. It can take nearly two weeks before you even start to see stubble. Most people feel the need to wax their hair again after three to six weeks.
How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help
Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.
- In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
- In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
- In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
- Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
- The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.
Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:
- Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
- Steroids.
- Other light treatments.
It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.
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What Are Some Effective Types Of Treatment For Thinning Hair
If you find yourself hyperventilating in the aisles of Whole Foods and buying $70 worth of biotin, take a step back. Though its use as a hair- and nail-growth supplement is prevalent, research demonstrating the efficacy of biotin is limited and most has focused on nails. “We don’t really have great data supporting its use,” says Henry. “The original studies on biotin and hair were actually quite small because of this, I don’t recommend very high doses of biotin. Further, high doses of biotin can interfere with some blood tests, especially in older patients and patients with a history of heart disease.”
Many women may have had these supplements recommended to them at some point, but unless there is a severe natural deficiency , it’s typically preferable to incorporate proven lifestyle changes, like a nutrient-filled diet and decreased stress.
There are a few treatments, like platelet-rich plasma injections, that do work. “PRP contains a number of compounds that are unique to platelets that stimulate growth and reduce inflammation,” explains Firshein. “Platelets work similarly to how they do in other parts of the body by repairing damaged areas and helping them to regrow.”
Hair loss is incredibly common, and women should not have to suffer in silence or try to hide their hair loss for fear of being seen as unattractive or old. Aging is a natural and beautiful process, and whether it’s going gray or thinning out, it is time we normalize beauty at every age.
What Can I Use To Grow My Hair Edges Back
Dont blame yourself for having thinning or damaged edges. Lots of women will experience the problem at some point in their lives.
Even if youre doing everything right, your edges can still give you trouble.
That said, taking good care of your hair and adjusting a few key aspects of your hair care routine can help, so weve put together a list of ideas to get you started.
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