What Can I Do For Hair Loss

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Women with hereditary baldness rarely develop bald patches. Instead, you experience a general thinning of their hair, especially over the top of your head or crown, while maintaining a frontal hairline.

Is There Anything I Can Do Myself About Hair Loss

It is important to first find out what the underlying cause of the hair loss is. Have you made any changes to your diet that could cause you to run out of iron, for example? Have you started taking medication? Do you experience a lot of stress in your life?

If the hair loss is related to the use of medication, consult your doctor or specialist to see what else you can do about it. If it is gradual hair loss, it may well be that heredity plays a role. Fortunately, you can then do enough to slow down or even stop this process. Live a healthy lifestyle, it is important that you get enough nutrients, especially iron, but also vitamins B and C. Make sure you move enough. Movement helps facilitate blood circulation, which in turn has a positive effect on hair growth.

Sport is also a very good way to get rid of stress complaints. Stress causes you to produce adrenaline, which, like lactic acid, enters the sebum. Lactic acid is harmful to the hair roots, which can even cause hair to die.

In addition, nowadays hair is generally washed too often, which disturbs the natural sebum production of the scalp. So make sure you do not wash your hair every day.

Sudden But Temporary Changes

The second most common cause of hair loss is called telogen effluvium . Its temporary and happens when theres a change in the number of follicles that grow hair and are in a resting state.

For example, women may lose hair in the months after childbirth or another stressful event. You can sometimes identify TE hair loss by looking at the strand. Telogen hairs have a bulb of keratin at the root.

TE is generally caused by anything that may shock the body and disrupt the hair lifecycle. There may be a considerable delay up to three months before you notice the effects of the change.

Possible triggers of TE hair loss:

• high fever
• emotional stress
• crash diets, lack of protein, eating disorders, and so on

Taking certain medications, like retinoids, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also lead to TE. The good news is that this type of hair loss is typically reversible, and eventually the TE hairs will start growing again on the scalp.

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What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

What causes hair loss?

• Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Over processed scalp hair .

What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?

• Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.

What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?

• Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anemia, illness and having a baby.
• Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
• An abnormal thyroid.
• Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
• Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.

What causes FPHL ?

• Genes: Your familys genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
• Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
• Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when estrogen is lost during menopause.

There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:

Final Thoughts On Natural Treatments For Thinning Hair

I hope you find these natural treatments for thinning hair to be effective. Remember that change wont happen overnight and consistency with natural treatments for thinning hair are key to optimal results.

If youre a woman experiencing hair thinning, hair loss experts recommend getting tested for thyroid problems and hormone imbalances as a good starting place. If you can get to a fixable cause of your hair thinning, the great news is that hair will often grow back and continue growing at a healthy rate once the underlying cause of your hair thinning is addressed. If youre a man or woman and youre afraid that its all just genetics, dont throw in the towel. While a family history might not be in your favor, you can still do a lot through your diet and lifestyle to slow down hair thinning and preserve your mane for as long as possible.

With a consistent, patient approach, natural treatments for thinning hair can help your scalp get back to work growing your hair as it should as often as it should or, at the least, help to to thin out at a slower pace. I know hair thinning is not easy to deal with, but I encourage you to give natural treatments for hair thinning a try and not put vanity before health because the conventional options can cause seriously alarming health issues that are a lot more concerning and damaging than a thinning head of hair.

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Why Does Hair Fall Out

The hair on your head goes through a life cycle that involves growth, resting, and shedding. Its common for people to lose around 100 hairs a day.

If you experience more sudden loss, loss in patches, or overall thinning, you may want to see your doctor.

Some shedding is temporary and may respond well to changes in diet, certain treatments, or lifestyle changes. Other loss may be more permanent or not stop until an underlying condition is treated.

Hair Loss In Black Women: Tips From An Expert

Almost half of black women experience some form of hair loss. However, few doctors are familiar with black hairstyling practices, leaving many women to sort through unhelpful or even harmful advice on their own.

Dermatologist Crystal Aguh, one of just a small group of dermatologists across the country specializing in hair loss, offers these tips to help women protect their hair and recognize common warning signs of hair loss.

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Tips To Hold Onto As Many Of Your Strands As Possible

• Be kind to your hair. No tugging when brushing or combing! Use a conditioning detangler and use a wide-toothed comb on wet hair to help prevent breakage or pulling.
• Wear a hat or cap in the sun to minimize damage from ultraviolet light.
• Heat and tight ponytails/hairstyles can hurt hair. Avoid heat styling with hot rollers, curling irons or permanents. Tight rubber bands, ponytails, headbands or braids can also break or weaken hair.
• Check with your doctor that your medications aren’t known to cause hair loss as a side effect.
• Don’t smoke. Studies have shown a correlation between smoking and baldness in men.
• Cool it. If you’re undergoing treatment with chemotherapy, check with your doctor about using a cooling cap. Scalp cooling, a technique used for decades in Europe, slows blood flow to your hair follicles by constricting blood vessels. This constriction may also limit the amount of chemotherapy drug that is able to reach your follicles.

Treatments For Hair Loss

Treatments for hair loss can range from medications to hair transplants. Many alternative treatments exist as well, but serums, supplements, and home remedies rarely have any evidence to back them up.

Be wary of those who advertise hair loss solutions they might be trying to take advantage of your vulnerability. If youre struggling with hair loss, consulting with a specialist will yield better results. They have the experience to diagnose the root cause of your hair loss, and can provide cutting-edge treatments that have been approved by the FDA.

At Associated Dermatologists, our board-certified dermatologists provide the following treatments:

• Topical medications, such as minoxidil
• Oral medications, such as finasteride and spironolactone
• Hair transplants
• Platelet-rich plasma injections

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP therapy, is a form of regenerative medicine used to treat hair loss. The process involves drawing blood, spinning it in a centrifuge, and injecting the isolated plasma and platelets into your scalp. This can help slow down hair loss and encourage the growth of newer, thicker hair.

To learn more about PRP therapy and other hair loss solutions, talk to the experts as Associated Dermatologists. You can schedule a consultation by calling the location closest to you, or request an appointment online.

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What Is The Prognosis/outlook For Women With Hair Loss

Your diagnosis determines the prognosis:

• Anagen and telogen shedding may stop with time.
• Treat any diseases associated with hair loss.
• Disguise or cover your hair loss using a wig or hat.
• Early treatment of alopecia may reduce the speed of thinning and may promote regrowth.

While hair loss is not itself dangerous, women with hair loss tend to be very upset by the changes to their appearance. These negative feelings can affect self-esteem and social lives. Recent studies suggest that FPHL can be associated with conditions that include metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders and diabetes.

Conventional Treatment For Thinning Hair

Conventional treatments for thinning hair include medications and surgery.

When hair is caused by an underlying disease, conventional medicine likely includes drugs like prednisone to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. Common side effects of prednisone include confusion, headache, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, thinning skin, acne, sleep problems and weight gain.

There are also two drugs on the market today that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat pattern baldness or thinning. The first one is minoxidil, commonly known commercially as Rogaine, and it can be used by both men and women. You may experience hair regrowth or a decreased rate of hair loss, but the growth is not permanent and will stop if you stop using it. Some common side effects may include severe scalp irritation, undesirable growth of facial hair, chest pain, rapid heart rate and more.

Another conventional option in pill form is called finasteride. Again, you need to keep taking it to retain benefits. Additionally, women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets. Side effects may include impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, abnormal ejaculation, swelling in your hands or feet, feeling faint,headache, runny nose, and skin rash.

Precautions Regarding Natural Treatments for Thinning Hair

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Medical Treatments To Arrest Hair Loss And Promote Regrowth

If your hair loss is severe or continues over 6 months, then seek help from your dermatologist or hair specialist. There are many FDA approved medications and treatments that control hair fall effectively. Medications such as Minoxidil, Finasteride and cyclical vitamin therapy for hair loss have proven benefits. In addition to this, hair loss treatment such as PRP hair treatment and meso-therapy give very good hair regrowth.

Post COVID-19 hair loss is usually caused by telogen effluvium and lasts for around 6 months. Except in cases where it becomes chronic telogen effluvium, where it lasts longer. Supportive care and lifestyle changes can be effective in controlling hair fall. Medical help can control the hair fall faster.

Key Points About Normal Hair Loss

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What Specific Treatments Are There For Hair Loss In Women

Female hair loss treatments include minoxidil , hair transplants, hair-powder fibers like Toppik, wigs, hair extensions, and weaves.

• Minoxidil is available over the counter and available in 2%, 4%, and 5% concentrations. It may be something of a nuisance to apply twice daily, but it has been shown to help conserve hair and may even grow some. Minoxidil tends to grow very fine small hairs wherever it is applied. It is important to avoid running the liquid onto the face or neck where it can also grow hair. It is marketed for women at the 2% concentration but may be used in higher strengths as directed by a doctor.
• Surgical procedures like hair transplants can be useful for some women as well as men to “fill in” thinned-out areas.

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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