Receding Hairline Is Common In Men Not For Women
It is usually associated with male pattern baldness, though not always. It can be an early sign of this hereditary hair loss. Interestingly, it is not common in women with female pattern baldness.
Although the crown can be quite shinny, female pattern baldness usually doesnt cause receding hairline. Unlike the name suggests, its also less likely to cause baldness. In fact, baldness is rare in women .
Typically, women with this pattern hair loss tend to experience thinning of hair on the entire scalp. And there is usually no noticeable bald spot.
Another key point, the underlying cause may be slightly different. Still, genetic and aging have a role. But its less likely to be associated with the activity of DHT. Even some recent studies have clearly confirmed that there is no link between androgen and female pattern baldness.
How To Use Rogaine
You can apply the Rogaine foam at any time of the day, though it is better if you try to make it at around the same time every day. The Rogaine comes in a container that dispenses the foam with the application of pressure.
First, make sure that your hair and scalp are both clean and dry. It is easier to get it on the right part of your scalp if you have your hair parted where it seems thinnest. This will help to expose your target area.
To avoid the foam melting into your warm hands, wash your hands in cold water and dry them well. This way your hands arent as warm before you get started. Now, dispense some of the foam right onto your scalp and rub it in thoroughly.
Starting from the back and working your way forward is often the easiest. Its supposed to get into your scalp and not stay on your hair. After you have applied it, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
Let it dry and absorb into your scalp for at least 3 to 4 hours. During this time you should not get your hair wet or apply any hair products to your hair. This is why women opt to use this before bed. They are sleeping during these hours and can shower and style their hair in the mornings.
Is All Hair Loss The Same
Although most cases of hair loss are attributed to hereditary hair loss, there are several other possible causes:
-
Hereditary hair loss is known as androgenic alopecia and is a genetic condition that shortens the time that hair spends actively growing and causes hair follicles to gradually shrink. Women with hereditary hair loss experience a general thinning of the hair, with the most extensive hair loss occurring on the top of the head and along the part. The number of women with this type of hair loss increases with age, but it can start as early as her 20s. Womens Rogaine® 5% Minoxidil Foam is only indicated to treat hereditary hair loss.
-
On the flipside, temporary hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, happens when stress, diet, a hormonal imbalance or a traumatic event causes the hair follicles to remain in the resting state, causing increased hair shedding and a temporary thinning of hair across the whole scalp. While the amount of time someone stays in telogen effluvium varies, once the imbalance has been corrected hair will return to its previous thickness.
-
A third kind of hair loss is called alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that is recognized by well-defined patches of hair loss, which may happen rapidly and could lead to complete hair loss. If you have no history of hair loss in your family and are experiencing this kind of hair loss, consult your doctor.
You May Like: What To Do If Hair Thinning
How To Apply Minoxidil To Your Scalp
Minoxidil is designed for once-daily application, with the morning the best time to apply the liquid solution to your scalp.
Before applying minoxidil, make sure your scalp and hair are dry. Moisture can affect minoxidils absorption rate, meaning that a reduced amount of the medication could make its way into your hair follicles.
You should avoid shampooing your hair for four hours after using minoxidil. This means its often best to wash your hair and scalp before applying the treatment.
Apply the minoxidil solution to the affected areas of your scalp. If necessary, you can spread the minoxidil solution over the target area using your fingers. If you use your fingers, make sure you wash them immediately after applying the solution to your scalp.
Allow the minoxidil to dry naturally . Its best to avoid wearing hats or other garments that cover your scalp in the two to four hours after using minoxidil.
How To Get Topical Finasteride From Happy Head
Until the FDA approves topical Finasteride and it becomes commercially available, it will remain under the discretion of your dermatologist. Most are happy to prescribe it if you ask, even without a history of side effects with oral Finasteride, but the trouble lies in getting high-quality and reproducible compounded topical Finasteride formulations from pharmacists.
At Happy Head, you can get a free consultation with certified dermatologists to talk about whether topical Finasteride might be the best solution for you. They will also review your history, listen to your problems with other hair loss medication, and create a custom prescription to suit your needs. The process starts with a quick, virtual consultation with one of their doctors.
The actual online visit is fast an easy you give them your gender, date of birth and email. Next you answer some questions about your hair loss, let them know if youve ever used minoxidil or finasteride before, tell them what medications you are already taking, etc. Super easy questions that youll already know the answers to. Then youll provide your mailing address, your billing information and finally youll have to upload a photo of your drivers license and a couple pictures of your thinning hair. It was super painless to do and took less than five minutes from start to finish.
You May Like: Why Is My Hair Thinning So Much
The Initial Effects Of Using Rogaine Can Be Alarming
with many users experiencing an INCREASE in hair loss.
However, Rogaines manufacturers point out that this is a normal and temporary state of affairs.
It happens, they say, because the minoxidil prompts the beginning of a new growth cycle. The lost hairs are old hairs that would have been lost anyway, but now they are shed in order to make way for the NEW hair growth.
That being said, if the extra shedding does happen to go on for more than 2 weeks, you should speak to your doctor.
Does Rogaine Work For Hair Regrowth And What Are The Side Effects
byJuly 3, 2017, 9:31 pm5k Views
There are a lot of remedies for hair loss out there, but Rogaine is by far the most famous. And theres are legit reasons for that. For one thing, out of all the hair loss treatments available over the counter in the United States, its the only one approved for both men and women. But availability isnt the only reason Rogaine has been and remains one of the most popular treatments for hair loss. Read on to learn more.
Don’t Miss: Can Stress Cause Hair Loss In Females
What Type Of Hair Loss Does It Treat
Minoxidil is only appropriate for hereditary hair loss. If you suffer from a condition such as psoriasis or alopecia areata, you should ask a medical professional for advice before applying it to your scalp. Doing so is necessary, as the solutions ingredients may interact with other drugs youre taking. Also, if you have any open sores, it will aggravate them.
To understand how Minoxidil treats hereditary/male-pattern hair loss, its necessary to understand the biology behind this condition.
DHT and male pattern baldness
First of all, its a genetic condition. It doesnt just affect men, and the factor that appears to increase hair loss is the bodys production of a particular type of testosterone. In those who suffer from male pattern baldness, their body is more likely to respond to the testosterone that converts into dihydrotestosterone aka DHT. DHT is a stronger form of testosterone, and it has more specific functions than the original hormone.
DHT encourages our bodies to focus on growing hair on our chins, chests, underarms, and backs. For DHT to achieve this, it needs a certain number of receptors in those areas. For reasons that are mainly unknown to medicine, those who have male pattern baldness have more of those receptors. Again, were unsure why, but when DHT attaches itself to the hair follicles on your head, it makes them smaller. The side effects of this include:
So how does Minoxidil benefit those with male-pattern baldness?
What Products Should I Use Along With Rogaine
Since hair growth shampoos tend to be a misnomer, we recommend trying shampoos that instead boost the appearance of the hair your already have. To combat thinning hair, try a hair volumizing shampoo or serum, which work by adding space between your strands so it looks like you have more hair than you actually do. “The diameter of the hair shaft diminishes as we get older,” explains Zoe Draelo, M.D., a North Carolina-based clinical and research dermatologist, and thickening serums increase the diameter of individual strands by forming a semi-permanent coating around each hair to create a plumping effect. Volumizing products also contain less of the heavy moisturizing ingredients that can weigh down your hair.
Also Check: Can You Prevent Genetic Hair Loss
Are There Other Treatment Options For Fphl
Women want innovative treatments for FPHL. To meet this need, researchers continue to look for new ways to stimulate hair growth and stop hair breakage. Other treatments that you may find for FPHL include the following.
Lasers for at-home use: The FDA has approved laser combs, helmets, and other devices, which are available without a prescription, to treat hair loss at home. These devices emit a low level of laser light that may help stimulate new hair growth. A few studies show that this can be effective for treating FPHL.
As with minoxidil and prescription medicines, you must continue using an at-home laser device to see results. We still do not know whether these devices are safe for long-term use or if they can continue to produce new hair growth.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy:
It is believed the platelets help stimulate your cells to grow hair.
Researchers are just beginning to study this therapy as a treatment for hair loss. The early findings show promise, but more studies are needed to know whether this is a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.
Stem cells: Using stem cells to treat FPHL is still in the experimental stages. Like platelet-rich plasma therapy, more studies are needed to know whether stem cells are a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.
Hair loss shampoos: These shampoos tend to do one of the following.
-
Help your hair hold moisture, which makes hair look fuller and thicker
-
Lessen breakage, which can reduce thinning
Is Hereditary Hair Loss The Same In Women And Men
Women experience a general thinning of the hair, with the most extensive hair loss occurring on the top of the head and along the part. Often the hair loss experienced by women resembles an evergreen pattern.
In men, hair loss is characterized by a receding hairline and a gradual disappearance of hair from the crown .
Don’t Miss: Why Do I Feel Like My Hair Is Thinning
Need Help Figuring Out Which Treatment Is Right For You
You can make your life easier by filling out a quick questionnaire for one of Keeps expert doctors to review. Once thats submitted, the doctor will follow up with a recommended treatment plan and next steps.
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.
Finasteride is an oral medication used to treat male pattern baldness in men only. It is not for use by women. When used by men, finasteride is generally safe but it can also cause serious side effects, including but not limited to allergic reactions, sexual dysfunction, depression, and high-grade prostate cancer. Most patients find that problems with sexual function resolve when they stop taking the medicine. For full prescribing information, view the drug label information.
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:
Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Doctor Do You See For Hair Loss
What Causes Hair Loss
There are many types of hair loss, but Androgenetic Alopecia is the one most commonly associated with thinning, hairline recession, and total balding .
In short, AGA is caused by sensitivity to the androgen DHT . DHT is produced when testosterone and 5-alpha-reductase interact, and its a normal process that occurs in both men and women.
For a longer explanation, here is a look at how exactly DHT contributes to hair loss.
Your hair follicles are a living system that require input in order to survive. When the source of oxygen and nutrients are cut off , the hair follicle will slowly miniaturize and, eventually, die.
In individuals with AGA, DHT limits the input received by follicles due to inflammation. As DHT attaches to androgen receptors near the sensitive follicles, the follicles respond by protecting themselves.
This protection comes in the form of inflammation, but long-term inflammation means that the necessary inputs are cut off for too long .
In men, these sensitive follicles tend to be near the hairline and crown, while in women they tend to be near the crown. As the hair follicles miniaturize, the hair that is being produced is unable to grow as it should. It becomes smaller and smaller until it soon no longer grows at all.
There are other factors at play , but DHT has been shown to play a significant role in pattern baldness.
Free Download – Hairguard’s Ultimate Hair Regrowth Cheat Sheet
Just answer a short quiz, no email address required.