Treating Female Pattern Hair loss



Does your hair suddenly seems a lot thinner? Hair loss is more common than you might think. According to the American Hair Loss Association, women make up to 40 percent of those who experience hair loss in the U.S.





Hair conveys aspects about your style and personality. Throughout their lives, particularly as they age, hair care may become even more important for women. Some researchers found that beginning in the late 20th century, perceptions about old age began to shift. It became increasingly important for older women to have groomed, managed hair to avoid negative perceptions related to aging. Many women begin to experience hair loss as they age, particularly during menopause. Hair loss in women over 50 is a common problem. It can be distressing and negatively affect self-esteem, but there are many strategies and treatments to manage hair loss in women.





It’s hard to keep calm when you start finding hair in bathtub, on rose quartz brush, and all over the house floor. First off, unless your hair loss is genetic or it caused by a medical condition, though, there are some ways to stave off the excessive thinning of your crowning glory.

Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men, because it's less socially acceptable for them. Hair loss 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.



Different types of hair loss

If you are noticing a sudden lack of hair on your head, that is saying something already. It's pretty normal to lose between 50 to 100 or a little bit above 100 hairs a day. Much more than that becomes concerning, and that's really important to let your dermatologist know..

Just as you would pay attention to a suspicious mole or keep your eye on a rash, it is important to take note of what is happening with your hair. We recommends a hair count test where you count every single hair you lose per day to gauge if what you are experiencing is normal or veering into something concerning. Here’s everything you need to know about what could be causing it, plus doctor-recommended tips and treatments for regrowth.





There are lots of different types of hair loss. It can take the form of "thinning" or involve a total loss of hair. It can be gradual or sudden; it can affect the old and the young.

Hair loss is a well-known side effect of chemotherapy. It's also common for women to lose more hair than usual up to three months after they've given birth.

Hair loss can be genetic, or as a result of extreme stress, a medical condition or treatment.



Hair Loss in Women We think of hair loss as a common problem in men, but women experience it, too. Fewer than 45% of women go through their whole lives with a full head of hair. What common causes hair loss in women? Womanss pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a common cause, and it increases with advancing age. This type of hair loss may begin in a woman's 40s, 50s, or 60s. It is hereditary, and genes inherited from the mother, father, or both may contribute to the condition.

Women who experience hair loss often experience psychological distress and impaired social functioning as a result of it. As women's pattern hair loss tends to be a chronic, progressive condition, early diagnosis and treatment are critical. This may help arrest subsequent hair loss. Some treatments may even help stimulate the growth of new hair. See the dermatologist if you are experiencing hair loss. Stopping hair loss in women is possible depending on the cause and how soon the problem is identified. Early treatment may slow hair loss in women.





Steps you can take for thicker and fuller hair.

Give a supplement for stronger strands

You’re a pro at counting macros and eating the rainbow, but you might be missing out on key nutrients which sustain hair growth. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, and biotin, to name a few, have been associated with hair loss. The good news is hair loss related to nutrient deficiencies generally isn’t permanent and can be rectified by adding in the nutrient.



Avoid foods that can cause to hair thinning

You’ve got plenty of reasons to limit your sweet tooth habit to dark chocolate and ease up on refined carbs, like maintaining your energy throughout the workday. But here’s another motivator to quit most processed snacks: Eating pro-inflammatory foods like sugar and refined grains can also hamper our hair growth and contribute to loss.

Foods that are lot of sugar, high-glycemic foods like pasta and bread, and unhealthy oils can all lead to thinning hair. When your body pumps out insulin in response to a blood-sugar spike caused by sweets or high-glycemic foods, levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and other androgens increase, which can make the hair follicle shrink and cause hair loss.



If you’re a huge sushi or lobster-roll fan, you may want to pay attention to your exposure to mercury. Mercury can also lead to brittle nails and thin hair. Limit sushi and fish to 2 to 3 times a week max, and stick to low-mercury fish and a serving size of 3 to 4 ounces.



Nutrients and supplements for hair loss Eating a nutrient-rich diet can keep your hair healthy, too. And while hair supplements won’t cause hair growth, they can help your strands grow stronger. The combination of fish protein, vitamin C, zinc, biotin, and niacin in Viviscal supplements encourages the body to produce healthier, thicker strands. Nutrafol is another hair supplement to consider. This uses highly concentrated botanicals to address every stage of the growth cycle. It has excellent clinical studies to support its efficacy.





Dietary Changes and Supplements If your hair loss is caused by an iron deficiency, your doctor might recommend changing your diet to include larger amounts of iron, protein and other nutrients that are important for optimal hair health. You might also need to take an iron supplement, especially if you experience iron deficiency because of a heavy period.

Like medications, dietary changes usually don’t produce immediate results. Instead, you’ll notice an improvement in your hair’s strength, feel and thickness over three to six months as your body adjusts to the extra nutrients in your diet. To speed up regrowth and restore your hair faster, your doctor might recommend using minoxidil at the same time as you change your diet.





Load up on the good-for-locks ingredients

As if you needed another reason to add eggs, lentils, beans, seeds, particularly flax, pumpkin, and hemp, avocado, and dark leafy greens to your cart, they make up a healthy-hair.

These ingredients, are packed with nutrients needed for hair growth including biotin, B vitamins, and vitamin C, which reduces the amount of free radicals in the body which can deter new strands from sprouting.



Vitamins B help create red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles which is important for hair growth, Biotin in particular is the most well-known B vitamin for hair health, but the truth is, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and folate (B9) also play an integral role.



Estrogen therapy

While not used as widely as in previous years, hormone replacement therapy can be a treatment for androgenic alopecia. It focuses on supplying the hormone estrogen to support a woman’s decreasing levels. Minoxidil is more effective, so it has taken over as the treatment of choice.

Women in their childbearing years should consult doctor if they take this medication and wish to also take oral contraception. They may need to choose a pill with the least progestin.



Hair transplantation

Hair transplantation, a procedure used in the United States to treat androgenic alopecia, involves removing a strip of scalp from the back of the head and using it to fill in a bald patch. Today, 90% of hair-transplant surgeons use a technique called follicular unit transplantation.

During this procedure, surgeons remove a narrow strip of scalp and divide it into hundreds of tiny grafts, each containing just a few hairs. Each graft is planted in a slit in the scalp created by a blade or needle in the area of missing hair. Hair grows naturally this way, in small clusters of one to four follicles, called follicular units. As a result, the graft looks better than the larger "plugs" associated with hair transplants of yesteryear.



Spironolactone

Otherwise known as Aldactone, the drug spironolactone works to treat hair loss by addressing hormones. Specifically, it binds to androgen receptors and decreases the body’s processing of testosterone. Not all researchers agree that it works effectively and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not labeled it as a treatment for androgenic alopecia.



Corticosteroids

Women with hair loss due to alopecia areata may consider treatment with corticosteroids injected at multiple sites in the affected area. Hair growth may be noticeable in as soon as four weeks, and treatment can be repeated every 4 to 6 weeks. Side effects with injections include skin atrophy or a thinning of the scalp. Topical corticosteroids are also available, but they aren’t necessarily as effective. And oral corticosteroids may lead to unpleasant side effects.



Tretinoin

Topical tretinoin, also known as Retin-A, is sometimes used as a combination therapy with minoxidil for androgenic alopecia.

It’s important to use this type of medication under the guidance of the doctor. Many woman who have used it at home report that topical retinol creams, lotions, and serums, may make hair loss worse.



Hair Loss Treatments to Avoid Be cautious about vitamins, supplements, and shampoos that claim to help hair loss. None of these have been studied thoroughly and they often cost a lot of money. There’s also little regulation of these products by the FDA so there’s no guarantee that they are both safe and effective.

You should steer clear of supplements that contain large amounts of biotin as there is little proof that it is helpful in people who have normal biotin levels — which is most people. The FDA issued a warning that mega doses of biotin can alter many of your lab results, including your thyroid function tasks and cardiac enzymes. People think just because something is ‘natural’ or a vitamin then it can’t be harmful, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. If you happen to take a multivitamin that contains a smaller amount of biotin, stop taking it two to three days before having any bloodwork conducted to ensure that your results are accurate.

While other purported natural treatments like castor oil might be benign, the specialis doesn’t recommend them because they may not be effective. If you have a form of scarring alopecia, the most important thing is for you to get an early diagnosis. This is permanent hair loss so if you spend six months to a year trying castor oil, you’re losing precious follicles that whole time that you won’t be able to get back, The best thing you can do is get a proper diagnosis from a doctor: These are actual medical conditions just like high blood pressure or diabetes. I see so many people suffering and trying different things and if they had only come in sooner, their result would be so much better. Hair transplantation, a procedure used in the United States to treat androgenic alopecia, involves removing a strip of scalp from the back of the head and using it to fill in a bald patch. Today, 90% of hair-transplant surgeons use a technique called follicular unit transplantation.During this procedure, surgeons remove a narrow strip of scalp and divide it into hundreds of tiny grafts, each containing just a few hairs. Each graft is planted in a slit in the scalp created by a blade or needle in the area of missing hair. Hair grows naturally this way, in small clusters of one to four follicles, called follicular units. As a result, the graft looks better than the larger "plugs" associated with hair transplants of yesteryear.Otherwise known as Aldactone, the drug spironolactone works to treat hair loss by addressing hormones. Specifically, it binds to androgen receptors and decreases the body’s processing of testosterone. Not all researchers agree that it works effectively and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not labeled it as a treatment for androgenic alopecia.





When to see a doctor

Everyone’s shedding pattern is a little different so there’s no standard amount of hair loss that warrants a call to your dermatologist. Some women shed very little and others shed a lot at baseline. We say losing 100 to 200 hairs per day can be normal and woman usually shed more on a shampoo day than a non-shampoo day. Many people stop washing their hair when they see it falling out, but you should continue to wash your hair every 1 to 2 days to keep your scalp healthy to promote hair growth. Keep in mind that a receding hair line and thinning hair can both occur without visible shedding.

See your doctor if you are distressed by hair loss and want to pursue treatment. Also talk to your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.



Summary

Unlike male-pattern baldness, female hair loss means a reduction in hair volume, making transplantation extremely difficult.

Hair loss is incredibly common, and women should not have to suffer in silence or try to hide their hair loss for fear of being seen as unattractive or old. Aging is a natural and beautiful process, and whether it's going gray or thinning out, it is time we normalize beauty at every age.