Noticeable Hair Loss In Women Can Be Deeply Distressing Here Are Some Medical Treatments That May Help
About one-third of women experience hair loss at some time in their lives among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men w, because it’s less socially acceptable for them. Alopecia can severely affect a woman’s emotional well-being and quality of life.
The main type of hair loss in women is the same as it is men. It’s called androgenetic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss. In men, hair loss usually begins above the temples, and the receding hairline eventually forms a characteristic “M” shape hair at the top of the head also thins, often progressing to baldness. In women, androgenetic alopecia begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the top of the head. A woman’s hairline rarely recedes, and women rarely become bald.
There are many potential causes of hair loss in women , including medical conditions, medications, and physical or emotional stress. If you notice unusual hair loss of any kind, it’s important to see your primary care provider or a dermatologist, to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. You may also want to ask your clinician for a referral to a therapist or support group to address emotional difficulties. Hair loss in women can be frustrating, but recent years have seen an increase in resources for coping with the problem.
Effective Ways To Stop Hair Loss In Men
Hair loss is one of the common problems in men. There could be many causes of hair loss that include diet, mineral deficiency, medications, stress, pollution, and genetics.
Below is the list of effective solutions to help reduce or prevent hair loss:
Tips For Hair Loss Or Thinning
- Use gentle hair products such as baby shampoos.
- Don’t use perms or hair colours on thinning hair colours may not take well and perms can damage the hair.
- Use a soft baby brush and comb thinning hair gently.
- Avoid using hair dryers, curling tongs, hair straighteners and curlers on thinning hair and pat your hair dry after washing.
- If your scalp flakes or itches this means it is dry use oil or moisturiser, not dandruff shampoo.
- Protect your scalp by covering your head in the sun.
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How Long Will It Take For My Hair To Grow Back
Although no immediate effect may be seen after your first month of taking finasteride, it is highly recommended that you stick with it for a few months as long as you suffer no adverse reactions.
It can take at least three months to slow down hair loss, six months to grow new hair, and as long as 12 months to verify whether the treatment is effective for you.
Even though the struggle to stop hair loss may be a long battle, the good news is that more than 90% of those taking finasteride reported seeing desirable results . While the effectiveness of finasteride often depends on the length of time it is taken, the available evidence suggests that two thirds of men who use it see some hair regrowth.
If you stop taking finasteride, it is likely that any hair you gained will be lost within 9-12 months.
Stop Hair Loss During Weight Loss By Taking Vitamins And Supplements Vs Eating Diet Foods That Support Hair Growth Vs Adding Regular Scalp And Hair Treatments And 1 More
Edited by Donna, Inukshuk, Eng, VC and 3 others
4 Methods:
One of the most challenging aspects of losing weight is facing the hair loss that is often the result of:
- Eating a diet that is restricted in calories as this causes your body to stop sending nutrients to “unnecessary” bodily functions such as growing hair to ensure that other autonomic functions and systems keep working
- Eating a diet that is restricted in fat, as this causes hair follicles to stop producing the sebum that nourishes strong, flexible hair that resists breakage
- Eating a diet that has you eating the same foods every day, thus causing hair loss due to missing vitamins and nutrients
- Eating a diet that restricts protein intake, such as a vegetarian weight loss regimen that forbids meat, as hair is made entirely of protein
- Eating a diet with no dairy, which can affect magnesium and calcium levels needed to grow hair
- Failing to eat foods that may be keeping your hormones in balance so that byproducts from normal biochemical actions in your body do not build up and cause hair loss
No matter what type of diet you are on, there are some dietary and lifestyle measures that you can take to minimize the inevitable hair thinning, fallout and patchy balding that can be the result of dieting.
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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.
What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth
Hair goes through three cycles:
- The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
- The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
- The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.
Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.
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What Is Androgenetic Alopecia
Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female pattern hair loss. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
As the name suggests, androgenetic alopecia involves the action of the hormones called androgens, which are essential for normal male sexual development and have other important functions in both sexes, including sex drive and regulation of hair growth. The condition may be inherited and involve several different genes. It can also result from an underlying endocrine condition, such as overproduction of androgen or an androgen-secreting tumor on the ovary, pituitary, or adrenal gland. In either case, the alopecia is likely related to increased androgen activity. But unlike androgenetic alopecia in men, in women the precise role of androgens is harder to determine. On the chance that an androgen-secreting tumor is involved, it’s important to measure androgen levels in women with clear female pattern hair loss.
Is There A Natural Solution
If any natural ingredient deserves a little more love, its ashwagandha, an Indian medicine herb that comes from a family of plants called adaptogens, which date back thousands of years in use in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, according to Rupani Goyal. Adaptogens help the body normalize physiologic responses to stress, such as cortisol release, and in this way can be helpful in managing hair loss, Goyal says.
Perhaps because natural medicinal alternatives are not prescribed by most doctors, its tempting to think you can DIY a hair loss solution by buying a few herbs off of Amazon, rolling up your sleeves, and creating elixirs in your kitchen. But Goyal reminds us that herbs are powerful and many of our prescribed medications actually originated in plants.
Safety is a real concern, Goyal says. As such, not only is it vital to have a complete understanding of human physiology before recommending a supplement, but if someone is attempting to actually create an herbal remedy, having the involvement of a plant scientist or chemist is also important.
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How Much Biotin Should You Take To Treat Hair Loss
Just because you are experiencing hair loss doesnt mean you should jump straight into scheduling a hair transplant. There are a handful of effective non-surgical hair growth treatments available that can help stop and reverse hair loss.
Among the various medical treatments for hair loss is a vitamin known as biotin.
Biotin is a vitamin that is vital in helping the body breakdown various substances such as fats and carbohydrates. It helps your body convert food into energy as well as helps with the health of your hair, skin and nails.
So before you decide that your only option to treat your hair loss is a hair transplant, lets take a look at biotin What it is, how it can help treat hair loss, how much you should take, and what sort of results you can expect from this treatment.
What Are The Types Of Hair Loss
There are three: anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium and FPHL.
- Anagen effluvium: This is caused by medications that poison a growing hair follicle .
- Telogen effluvium: This is caused by an increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase, which is the stage where hair falls out.
- Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss /baldness: This type is the most common. Hair thins over the top of the head and on the sides.
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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.
How Does Finasteride For Hair Loss Treatment Work
Finasteride belongs to a class of medications called 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARIs. It works by inhibiting the action of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme, which is involved in converting testosterone into the hormone dihydrotestosterone .
DHT plays a central role in male pattern baldness. If youre genetically prone to hair loss, DHT can bind to receptors in your hair follicles and cause them to miniaturize, resulting in a gradual loss of hair around your hairline, crown or across your scalp.
Our guide to DHT and male hair loss discusses the effects of DHT on your hair follicles in more detail.
Research shows that a typical dose of finasteride lowers serum DHT levels by more than 70 percent.
This can result in your hair loss slowing, or even stopping completely. Many men even notice a significant degree of hair regrowth in areas of the scalp affected by male pattern baldness after starting treatment with finasteride.
So, does finasteride produce results? For most men, absolutely. Numerous studies have found that finasteride can slow down or stop hair loss from male pattern baldness, and even stimulate hair growth.
In one study involving two one-year clinical trials, researchers found that finasteride produced a more than 15 percent increase in hair count at the vertex scalp in men with male pattern baldness.
In short, finasteride works, with most men experiencing improvements in their hair growth and density with treatment.
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Treatments For Hair Thinning That May Actually Work
Want to do something about your thinning hair? The first thing you should do is talk to a dermatologist or trichologist. They can figure out whatâs causing your hair loss, and they can recommend treatments that might be right for you. They may suggest options including:
1. Minoxidil . This medication is a foam or a liquid that you put on your scalp. You can buy it over the counter without a prescription. You may have to use it for several months before your hair starts to thicken. If you do regrow hair, youâll lose it again if you stop taking minoxidil.
2. Finasteride . This prescription medication is a pill you take by mouth. You may have to take finasteride for months before you see results, and youâll lose new hair if you stop taking it.
3. Microneedling. A device with hundreds of tiny needles that you use on your scalp may help hair grow, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The site says research suggests that microneedling may work better if you use it along with another hair loss treatment. You can buy one of these devices without a prescription, but talk to a dermatologist first. They can let you know if itâs safe for you, and they can recommend a specific microneedling device.
5. Low-level laser therapy. The American Academy of Dermatology says research suggests that this scalp treatment may help the following conditions:
- Male-pattern hair loss
- Hair loss from chemotherapy
- Healing and hair growth following a hair transplant