Hair Loss in Women: Types, Causes, Treatments
Table Of Content
PRP includes extracting a small portion of your blood, processing it in a machine to separate its the plasma, and injecting the plasma portion into the affected scalp area. Some studies show that this procedure can help to stimulate hair growth, especially when used in combination with another treatment, such as minoxidil. It is important to know that androgenetic alopecia typically appears differently in women than men. In women, the hair becomes thinner at the top of the head, and the middle part widens. This results in the production of finer and shorter hair strands, eventually leading to visible thinning of the hair. The genetic predisposition to this sensitivity to androgens determines the likelihood and pattern of hair thinning.
document.getElementsByTagName('head') .appendChild(rs);
The biggest drawback of at-home laser therapy is the cost. Some machines are sold for hundreds of dollars, and they may not work. Talk with your doctor before making a large investment. But, as with multivitamins, there isn’t enough evidence that folic acid is guaranteed to help make your hair thicker.
Effective hair loss treatments for women
Her work has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Real Simple, Prevention, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Most of us shed hair a little at a time — pretty much all the time. If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before taking minoxidil.
Other Conditions
Losing your hair — whether the hair loss is temporary or permanent — can be emotionally difficult for many people. Some types of hair loss can eventually lead to baldness. Nutritional supplements like vitamins, minerals, and others might be suggested by your dermatologist if your blood test indicates low levels of biotin, iron, or zinc. Additionally, if your protein intake is insufficient, your dermatologist (specialist of conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) can advise you on ways to increase it. Only consider supplementing with biotin, iron, or zinc upon confirmation of deficiencies through blood tests.
Any information you can provide about how quickly the hair loss occurred, along with any family history of baldness, will also be helpful. If you’re currently losing hair, use a gentle baby shampoo to wash your hair. Unless you have extremely oily hair, consider washing your hair only every other day or less. Because so many things can cause hair loss, it’s best to schedule an appointment with a medical professional if you notice any changes in your hair.
Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
If you're noticing your hair appearing thinner lately, you should first know that you're not alone. It's estimated that millions of people experience some form of hair loss. Poisons that can cause hair loss include arsenic, thallium, mercury, and lithium. If you ingest a large amount of warfarin, which is found in rat poisons, it can also cause hair loss. Taking large amounts of vitamin A or selenium is also toxic and can cause hair loss.
Many factors affect these levels, with other diseases or conditions leading to different types of hair loss. Though hair loss can’t always be reversed, knowing what’s at the root of hair loss is critical in managing it. This article discusses factors that lead to thinning hair or bald spots, who’s at risk, and how to treat it. The FDA has approved a few laser treatment devices to treat hair loss at home.
Hormones
Hair regrowth usually begins within a few months after you finish treatment. Prescription medications, like finasteride (Propecia), may help prevent further androgenetic hair loss, especially for male pattern baldness. You take this medication daily to slow hair loss, though some experience new hair growth when taking finasteride. It's not typically recommended for women of reproductive age due to potential risks to a developing male fetus and may cause sexual side effects in some men.
Tinea capitis, also called ringworm of the scalp, is a fungal infection that can affect the scalp and hair shaft. Over time, if not treated early, the size of the patch or patches will increase and fill with pus. This type of hair loss typically resolves on its own once the underlying cause is addressed. If the stress stops, your body will readjust and the excessive shedding will stop.
Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? What to Know - Verywell Health
Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? What to Know.
Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The treatment involves drawing a patient's blood, combining the blood plasma with a high concentration of platelets to promote clotting and reinjecting it into the scalp. Proteins, fats, and certain vitamins and minerals are important for hair health. Doctors prescribe this drug for males and females between puberty and menopause who have not seen an improvement after using minoxidil. People apply the product directly to the areas of thinning hair. The following sections give more details about some of the causes of thinning hair.
These treatments don’t usually affect your hair root, and your hair will likely grow back once you stop treatment. It’s normal for women to produce hormones like testosterone. But when they produce too much, it can lead to symptoms like disrupted menstrual cycles, acne, and hair thinning. Pattern hair loss usually starts in adulthood, but can also start during your teenage years. It’s not uncommon for teenagers to experience this form of hair loss, but its prevalence is currently not known.
If done improperly and with the wrong products, chemical hair curling, bleaching, relaxation treatments, coloring, or perming can cause hair loss. If you notice hair loss, talk to your doctor as soon as you can. While male hair loss tends to affect the forehead or the crown of the head, female hair loss often leads to thinning on the top third to half of the scalp. Your part may gradually become wider, you might see more of your scalp when your hair is pulled back, or your ponytail could be less full.
The cost (often thousands of dollars) is prohibitive for most people. Certain medications have side effects that can cause hair to fall out. Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces — not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Surgical procedures to treat baldness are not usually covered by insurance. Some research connects excess intake of vitamin A or selenium with an increased risks for hair loss.
Comments
Post a Comment