Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
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.
The Initial Causes Mild Pcos Hair Loss
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
What Types Of Doctors Treat Autoimmune Diseases
Juggling your health care needs among many doctors and specialists can be hard. But specialists, along with your main doctor, may be helpful in managing some symptoms of your autoimmune disease. If you see a specialist, make sure you have a supportive main doctor to help you. Often, your family doctor may help you coordinate care if you need to see one or more specialists. Here are some specialists who treat autoimmune diseases:
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Hair Loss Can Affect Anyone Heres What You Need To Know:
Hair Loss is Normal
Hair loss is normal, and part of the normal aging process for both men and women. If your parent suffered from alopecia, hair loss, or even male-pattern baldness, there is a good chance that you will also inherit hair proteins with a shorter life cycle.
Know the Signs
It may seem like identifying hair loss is a no-brainer, but it could be difficult to ascertain whether it is a part of the natural aging process or something more serious. For men, thinning of the scalp, crown and a receding hairline are signs of male pattern baldness, which is normal and completely treatable. For women, a thinning especially near the crown may occur.
Consider Contributing Factors
So many things can contribute to hair loss, from daily stress to the type of shampoo that you use. Narrowing down what is causing or contributing to your hair loss may involve some trial and error, but a few of the common culprits include:
- Daily diet
- Injuries
- Pregnancy and childbirth
While pinpointing the cause may be difficult, even impossible, there are activities, habits, and lifestyle choices that could impact mens hair loss.
Know Your Options
Your Mom Lost Her Hair Too
“If you come from a family where women started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might be more prone to it,” says Dr. Glashofer. Unlike men, women don’t tend to have a receding hairline, instead their part may widen and they may have noticeable thinning of hair. This is also known as femalepattern baldness.
Women may benefit from minoxidil to help grow hair, or at least, maintain the hair you have, Dr. Glashofer says. Rogaine is available over-the-counter and is approved for women with this type of hair loss.
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What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
How Can I Deal With Flares
Flares are the sudden and severe onset of symptoms. You might notice that certain triggers, such as stress or being out in the sun, cause your symptoms to flare. Knowing your triggers, following your treatment plan, and seeing your doctor regularly can help you to prevent flares or keep them from becoming severe. If you suspect a flare is coming, call your doctor. Don’t try a “cure” you heard about from a friend or relative.
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You Lost A Lot Of Weight Very Quickly
Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can result in thinning hair. This could happen even if the weight loss is ultimately good for you. It’s possible that the weight loss itself put unnecessary stress your body, or that not eating right can resulted in vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Loss of hair along with noticeable weight loss may also be a sign of an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
This type of hair loss, too, will correct itself once after a while. “Sudden weight loss seems to shock the system and you’ll have a six-month period of hair loss and then it corrects itself,” says Dr. Hammonds.
A Good Trichologist Will
- Be fully trained by a recognized institution and have all of the revlovent insurance and safety covers
- Spend time explaining the condition in as much detail as possible
- Be clear and open about pricing
- Only provide care when requested
- Suggest more suitable options if this falls outside their scope
- Work with other professional to promote the best outcome for the patient
- Treat all patients with the utmost respect and kindness
- Say when they are unable to reach a diagnosis
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Surgical Procedures For Hair Loss
The type of procedure that a dermatologist recommends depends on how much hair you have lost and the cause. While we do not currently provide the following surgical procedures, your dermatologist may refer you to a medical professional who does.
- Hair transplantation: Skin on the scalp that has good hair growth is removed and transplanted to areas of the scalp that need hair.
- Scalp reduction: Bald scalp is surgically removed and hair-bearing scalp is brought closer together to reduce balding. Scalp reduction surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with a hair transplant.
- Scalp expansion: Devices are inserted under the scalp for about 3 to 4 weeks to stretch the skin. This procedure may be performed before a scalp reduction to make the scalp more lax. It also can be performed solely to stretch hair-bearing areas, which reduces balding.
- Scalp flaps: A hair-bearing segment of scalp is surgically moved and placed where hair is needed.
How Many More Hair Loss Doctors Do I Need To See
Do I REALLY have to see that many hair loss doctors? Havent I seen enough hair loss doctors? It is normal to feel overwhelmed with already seeing several doctors to determine the cause for your hair loss. Many women with hair loss have shared this experience so know you are not alone. Some women share that one type of doctor ended up being much more helpful than the other type, but still would suggest seeing both to get a full diagnosis and rule out many issues.
We would highly suggest seeing more than one doctor in each field. The more experience hair loss doctors have brings more knowledge which is important as well as comforting. Hair loss doctors that have much experience should also have a good bedside manner and understand that with hair loss also comes the need for emotional support and sensitivity and truly sharing their concern is just as important and giving a solution.
Do your research before making that appointment. Ask around. Call the office and ask to speak to the doctor. If this is not an option, as some questions to the receptionist about the experience of the doctor.
Do they see a lot of women with hair loss?
What do you see the treatments often end up being?
Do they order blood work at the first appointment?
How many years of experience?
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You Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is another imbalance in male and female sex hormones. An excess of androgens can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a higher risk of diabetes, changes in your menstrual period, infertility, as well as hair thinning. Because male hormones are overrepresented in PCOS, women may also experience more hair on the face and body.
Treating PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse some of these changes. Treatments include diet, exercise, and potentially birth control pills, as well as specific treatment to address infertility or diabetes risk.
Why You Need A Dermatologist For Hair Loss Not A Trichologist
11 Mar 2020
If you are looking for the right person to treat your hair loss its important to know the facts so that you get the very best treatment available. Hair loss can be caused by a whole range of conditions, such as alopecia areata, many different autoimmune diseases, anaemia, thyroid disorders, traction, and baldness. While it can potentially be caused by one of these disorders, female hair loss can also occur as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome after pregnancy and during menopause.
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Doctors That Treat Hair Loss
The main doctor that specializes in treating hair concerns is a Dermatologist. Dermatologists are trained in hair, skin, and nail conditions, so if you choose to see a dermatologist you can be pretty confident that they are well versed on all things hair.
Another type of doctor with a specialty in hair loss specifically is a Trichologist. Trichologists are doctors that have a focus nearly exclusively on hair loss. In the UK, Trichologists receive training in this formal field of study for two years, but in the US there are no formal requirements for Trichologists.
A doctor can also be both a Trichologist and a Dermatologist, but not all Trichologists are Dermatologists.
Aside from these two types of doctors, it is also common for general practice or other specialties to know about the most common hair loss treatments and be able to help you out with your hair loss as they received general hair loss treatment training in medical school.
You can start by asking your current general doctor about hair loss treatment options, or you can have a free online appointment with our U.S. licensed doctors online to get help for your hair loss.
How Common Is Hair Loss In Women
Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss , which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.
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The Life Cycle Of Hair
First, the hair structure: Hair is made up of the follicle and the shaft. The hair follicle anchors the hair into the scalp, and the bulb at the base of the follicle contains the cells that divide and grow to build the hair shaft. The hair shaft is hair that we see growing out of the follicle.
From the very moment that the hair shaft starts to grow to when it falls out, every hair goes through four distinct phases: anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen.
Growth Phase: Anagen
The growth phase lasts between two and seven years. During the anagen phase, the cells of the bulb are dividing rapidly to build the hair shaft. At any one time, 80% to 90% of hair follicles are in the anagen phase.
Transition Phase: Catagen
The transition phase lasts two to three weeks. The hair stops growing and detaches itself from the blood supply in the bulb but remains in place. It is then called a club hair for the shape of the knob at the end of the shaft.
Resting Phase: Telogen
The club hair rests while a new hair begins to grow beneath it. This new hair will eventually take the place of the club hair. The telogen phase lasts around three months, and 10% to 15% of all hairs are in this phase at any one time.
Shedding Phase: Exogen
The club hair detaches and falls out to make room for the new hair coming through the follicle. Each follicle goes through the cycle on its own time so you do not have many of them going through the shedding phase at the same time.
Do You Need A Hair Loss Doctor
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
If youve noticed your hairline starting to recede or your hair beginning to thin, one of the most important steps you can take in stopping any further hair loss is getting in touch with a hair loss doctor.
Hair loss can start as early as your teens, and many men start to notice the early signs of male pattern baldness in their 20s or 30s.
The point is, with hair loss, the earlier you take action and seek out professional treatment, the more of your hair youll generally be able to keep.
Luckily, almost all male hair loss is treatable today. A hair loss doctor can work with you to find out whats causing your hair loss and put together a hair loss prevention plan that helps you to minimize further loss and keep as much of your hair as possible.
Not sure if you need a hair loss doctor? Below, weve listed the key benefits of talking to a hair loss doctor, as well as some signs you can look for to know when its time to take action and do something about your hair loss.
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