Medications That Cause Hair Loss In Females
Hormone therapies can trigger hormone imbalances in women, causing hair loss and potentially causing permanent female pattern baldness.
Birth control pills used for contraception and hormone replacement therapies , like progesterone and estrogen, are examples. Women who have undergone a full hysterectomy, for example, require ongoing HRT after surgery.
Hair Growth Support + By Nuzena
Nuzena is a brand-new supplement company known for their potent formulas.
Nuzenas Hair Growth Support + contains several ingredients that help to promote hair growth such as biotin, folic acid, and Fo-Ti ingredients we have seen before, but are in larger dosages here.
It also contains several vitamins and trace minerals that help to support hair volume and nourish hair quality something we know is also important for people looking for hair growth supplements.
Nuzena claims that their formula will support hair growth, hair volume, and hair structure and by looking at the ingredients inside the formula we can certainly see why.
Another encouraging sign for first time buyers is that there are plenty of verified positive customer reviews on their website a great sign to see.
Easily a top-3 option and one of the cheapest options, too.
Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
Is your part widening? Have you noticed that your ponytail is thinner these days? You may have female pattern hair loss , a condition that affects millions of women. FPHL is actually the most-common cause of hair loss in women.
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
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Finasteride For Women’s Hair Loss
Known commercially as Propecia, Finasteride is an oral medication for men’s hair loss. Doctors will prescribe it to women on a case-by-case basis. Finasteride is not commonly prescribed to women as it’s not safe for pregnant women or women who plan to get pregnant. The science to support Finasteride is new and evolving, but many women have experienced successful regrowth from consistent use.A 18-month study revealed that small doses of off-label Finasteride effectively prevents and ceases hair loss in premenopausal women. While Finasteride has proven to be an effective medication for hair loss, it’s only suitable for pre- or post-menopausal women, or women who do not wish to conceive. While many women have experienced positive results and regrowth from regular oral administration of Finasteride, it’s entirely situational.Finasteride blocks testosterone hormones from becoming DHT, the hormone linked to women’s hair loss. Because the drug is teratogenic, it can harm fetuses and cause birth defects. Most commonly, Finasteride is prescribed at 2.5 or 5 mg per day. If you aren’t family planning or pregnant, Finasteride may be an effective solution to women’s hair loss.
The Need For Cam In Hair Loss
Hair loss is a disorder with significant adverse psychological effects, including low self-esteem, low confidence, and negative influence on social interactions 52% of women and 28% of men report being very to extremely upset by their alopecia . As a result, patients who do not see significant improvements in hair growth with conventional therapy often turn to CAM.
AGA, also known as male or female pattern hair loss, is the most common form of hair loss, affecting up to 50% of the adult male and 40% of the adult female population . Current FDA-approved treatment options for hair loss are limited to topical MXD , oral finasteride , and low-level light therapy . Unfortunately, all therapies are limited by their incomplete efficacy and risk of recurrence after cessation . Side effects related to MXD include facial hypertrichosis in 35% of women and contact dermatitis in 6.5% of patients . Systemic finasteride also boasts a large adverse effect profile including sexual dysfunction and post-finasteride syndrome with associated depression and/or psychosis . More invasive procedures for hair restoration include hair transplantation surgery or injections of platelet-rich plasma, which are costly, time-consuming, and require multiple treatment sessions.
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What Are The Risks Of Not Using These Medicines
There are no risks to your health if you decide not to use medicine for hair loss. But some people may be bothered by hair loss that they feel has affected their appearance.
If you don’t use medicine, your hair loss will probably continue. But medicine doesn’t always work, and hair loss may continue despite treatment with medicine.
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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Chapter : Drugs That Grow Hair
Peter Panagotacos, MD Contents Chapter 9: Drugs That Grow Hair
Countless medications, nutrients, herbs, and chemicals have been claimed to stop or reverse hair loss, however when tested scientifically in well controlled, double-blind clinical trials, almost none have been proven to be effective. Of course, hundreds of bogus hair loss products continue to make claims about their effectiveness, including presenting bogus testimonials by medical doctors and users, scientific evidence of effectiveness, and even fake results from well controlled, double-blind clinical studies. In the United States alone, hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted each year on medical treatments for hair loss products that simply do not work. Bogus hair loss treatments also sell well in Central and South America, in Asia, and Europe.
This chapter reveals the four most effective medications proven scientifically for treating genetic hair loss. All four of these drugs were originally approved by the FDA for treating medical conditions other than hair loss. All can slow the rate of inherited hair loss, and in many cases they can help hair follicles that have recently shut down to begin to grow hair again. Individual results will vary. This chapter also includes a final section on topical treatments.
Propecia
Both of these conditions can affect up to two percent of men in the first month of use, but drop to about a half percent when measured again after two years.
Rogaine
Aldactone
Prescription And Otc Drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs to treat male pattern baldness:
- Minoxidil : Rogaine is available over the counter as a liquid or foam. Apply it to the scalp twice a day to grow hair and prevent hair loss.
- Finasteride :This is a pill that you take daily. Its only available with a prescription from your doctor.
For both of these drugs, it may take up to a year to see results, and youll need to keep taking them to maintain the benefits.
The two most popular hair transplant procedures are follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction:
Follicular unit transplantation
FUT is the more classic method. It involves removing some skin from the back of your scalp where theres an abundance of hair, removing the follicles from that strip of skin, and then reinserting the hair follicles into the part of the scalp where youre experiencing hair loss.
Follicular unit extraction
In FUE, hair follicles are removed directly from the scalp and transplanted to the bald parts of the scalp.
Keep in mind that a hair transplant is considered a surgery, so it can be expensive and may be painful.
There are also certain risks, including infections and scarring. You may also need to do multiple hair transplant treatments to get the desired outcome.
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Classic Lipogaine Big 3 Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo
Weve already included Lipogaines Big 5 Hair Loss Shampoo on our list, but their Big 3 shampoo is worthy of inclusion as well. And that leads to the inevitable questions of, 1) whats the difference between the two, and 2) which one is better?
Both questions are simple enough to answer. Youll find the main differences in a side-by-side comparison of each products ingredients Big 3 contains ketoconazole, which the Big 5 does not, while the Big 5 adds natural ingredients such as argan oil and saw palmetto.
Which one is better? Thats a tough call and, without trying to dodge the question, our view is that you need to see which one works best for you. All bodies are unique and respond differently, making it difficult to predict exactly which shampoo and skincare products would work best with every individual.
Both of these shampoos are packed with proven ingredients. Which is most effective will come down to how each individual reacts and the proper hair care regimen they follow.
That being said, the Big 3 is a classic version of a great all-around product, and you should see similar results from the Big 3 and Big 5.
If youve tried both, let us know which one you preferred in the comments below!
The most notable ingredients of the Big 3 are biotin , castor oil, and emu oil.
We have discussed the first two. The latter helps defend against a variety of scalp and skin issues, including inflammation and allergic reactionsstrange but true!
It also moisturizes the skin.
Pros
What Prescription Medications Can Help With Thinning Hair
A dermatologist may prescribe one of the following oral medications to treat male-pattern baldness and female-pattern hair loss:
- Spironolactone: Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a diuretic and for treating high blood pressure. Doctors have been prescribing spironolactone for decades to treat thinning of hair. However, as this medication can increase the potassium levels in the body, you should inform your doctor if you suffer from kidney or adrenal gland problems.
- Finasteride: Finasteride is an oral medication approved for hair loss in men but not for women. It works by improving the levels of the hormone testosterone.
Both these medications can cause birth defects in male children. Hence, dermatologists usually do not prescribe them to women of child-bearing age. If they do prescribe them, they generally recommend taking birth control measures.
These medications are mostly reserved for menopausal women who do not respond to treatment with minoxidil.
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Read The Instructions & List Of Ingredients
When in doubt, read the usage recommendations found on your hair loss shampoos container.
Those recommendations are there to ensure that you get the best results from your shampoo without causing damage to your scalp or hair.
Also, always pay attention to a products list of ingredients to make sure that it doesnt contain something which may cause an allergic reaction.
Finally, consult with your doctor before using a hair loss shampoo while youre pregnant.
Most hair loss shampoos are safe for expecting mothers because their ingredients arent absorbed into the bloodstream. Nizoral being an exception here as it is unknown if ketoconazole can affect a developing fetus.
Always read the label or follow your healthcare providers advice.
Pro tip:
A healthcare providers recommendation trumps the label. Consult your dermatologist before trying out anything that might have any kind of side effects on you or your baby.
Mind And Body Medicine
Mind and body medicine focuses on the connection between the brain, body, and behavior, utilizing techniques administered by trained practitioners and teachers to reduce physiologic stress and subsequent detri mental health effects . Of the variety of techniques available, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy have been studied for the treatment of hair loss.
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Key Points To Remember
- Treatment with medicines may slow hair loss and help to regrow hair. But you may not get as much hair growth as you expect.
- You must keep taking the medicine, or any regrown hair will fall out.
- Your provincial health plan or private health insurance probably will not cover the medicine, and the medicines can be costly.
- It may be very dangerous to take these medicines if you are pregnant or have certain health conditions, such as heart problems.
- You may feel that the possibility of regrowing hair and feeling better about how you look is more important than the limitations of hair loss treatment.
Androgenic Alopecia /male Pattern Hair Loss
This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting approximately 90% of men who present with hair loss. While women may also experience AGA, known as female pattern hair loss , it disproportionately affects men. This type of hair loss causes the classic M-shaped receding hairline, thinning at the crown or the infamous horseshoe pattern, which most people are familiar with. The age that this type of hair loss begins varies widely, with some experiencing hair loss as early as their teens while others only begin losing their hair well into middle age. The underlying cause of this type of hair loss is related to the effects of dihydrotestosterone on the hair follicle as well as multiple inflammatory pathways resulting in disruption of the hair growth cycle and miniaturisation of the hair follicles, ultimately causing ones hair to thin and eventually fall out. Various medications have been developed to treat androgenic alopecia, with minoxidil and finasteride being the only two FDA-approved treatments currently available amongst myriad other treatments ranging from rigorously tested and scientifically backed solutions to pseudoscientific snake oils and supplements.
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