Why Do Women Suffer from Hair Loss?

Why Do Women Suffer from Hair Loss?

Hair loss in women can be devastating, but you have options to thicken your hair or promote regrowth. Because the causes of female patterned baldness and treatment options we offer for women differ widely from those for men, the Hair Center at Helendale treats our female patients as dermatology patients.

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Does your hair feel thinner throughout your scalp? Does your ponytail lack the normal volume and buoyancy it once had? Perhaps you’ve noticed your part widening and the hair on the sides of your scalp thinning. These symptoms indicate female-patterned baldness.

Not everyone realizes that hair loss affects women as well as men. Although men are more likely to experience hair loss, women are more affected by the results. Hair loss in women can be devastating and strongly impact their self-esteem. Women suffering from hair loss number about 21 million in the United States and 60% will see noticeable hair loss by age 60.

Many women falsely believe there aren’t treatment options for them, and even though they long to address their hair loss, they don’t know how or where to start. Fortunately, women have many treatment options.

Treatment Options for Hair Loss in Women

Treatment options for hair loss in women include a host of topical solutions, a daily hair care regime, and PRP treatment.

TOPICAL SOLUTIONS

A daily hair care routine with the appropriate topical treatments for hair loss can help stimulate growth, thicken hair, and care for and retain your existing hair follicles. We love products from Ducray and Avalon for our women who struggle with hair loss. 

Remember, topical solutions take time to take effect, and to make your topical treatment most effective, you must commit to your hair care regime and perform it daily. This way, your hair stays strong and you’ll see the benefits of your topical solutions. 

PRP HAIR TREATMENT

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. During a PRP treatment, we use the patient’s own platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which contains growth factors that encourage hair follicles to grow thicker, stronger hair. These growth factors in the serum and platelets are the main agents that stimulate hair follicle repair.

PRP is pretty effective in stimulating hair growth, but the treatment is not for everyone. To find out if you are a candidate, we’ll need to see you for a consultation first.

To determine which treatment is right for you, you’ll want to see a dermatologist who specializes in hair restoration. They will need to determine the cause of your hair loss, evaluate other factors such as your age and health, and then prescribe what treatment will be the most effective for you.

Request an appointment with a dermatologist here

What causes hair loss in women?

Women most commonly experience non-permanent thinning hair due to stress, medical issues/procedures, pregnancies, and menopause. Some hair loss is a normal part of the aging process.

It can be difficult to determine the cause of hair loss, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Ask a dermatologist to discuss possible treatment. The most common reasons for women losing hair include:

GENETICS

Genetics can play a roll in hair loss in women. Known as genetic androgenetic alopecia, some women experience permanent hair loss as a result of their genetics. Instead of experiencing a receding hairline, temples, or whirl, they will see a widening part and thinning hair diffused throughout the scalp. If the patient has female family members who experienced hair loss by a certain age, that may indicate she has genetic hair loss. Women with this type of hair loss have seen great success with topical treatments containing minoxidil and hair transplants.

If the patient is a good candidate for a female hair transplant, Dr. Arthur will carefully analyze her hair loss pattern to determine appropriate donor areas and necessary graft locations. About one in twenty women have healthy donor areas for hair transplants and have had great success with the NeoGraft Hair Transplant procedure.

For other women, hair transplants aren’t the best option. If a female patient isn’t a candidate for hair transplants, she can take advantage of medical-grade hair products, light therapy, PRP treatment, or new hairstyles that camouflage thinning hair.

EXTREME STRESS

When women experience extreme physical or emotional stress, hair that was naturally growing or resting quickly shifts to the shedding phase. Women may experience hair loss up to 3-6 months after the stressful event, but hair will naturally return on its own once the stressor has been removed. In the meantime, try to relieve stress as much as possible by exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. Consider talk therapy to get the support you need.

POOR HEALTH CHOICES (DIET)

Diet plays a critical role in hair loss. Dramatic, sudden weight loss can stress the body to the point of excessive hair shedding that lasts up to 6 months, even if the weight loss is healthy. Some weight loss diets result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Iron deficiency (anemia) is one of the most common triggers of hair shedding in women and birth control is often the culprit. Consider taking a daily iron supplement.

Especially common for vegans and vegetarians, you may also be deficient in protein. If the body isn’t getting enough protein, it will start to ration the protein by stopping normal hair growth. You will notice thinning hair about 2-3 months after you’ve stopped getting enough protein.

On the other hand, overdosing on Vitamin A, either in the form of supplements or in some medications, can cause hair thinning. Daily intake of Vitamin A is 5,000 (IU). If this is the cause of your hair loss, it can be easily remedied by halting the excessive intake of Vitamin A.

A lack of B Vitamins may also contribute to hair loss. Make sure you’re getting adequate Vitamin B, either through supplementation or diet changes.

MENOPAUSE

During menopause, women have a significant drop in the hormones that produce hair cells. The imbalance of hormones may activate the male hormone receptors (androgen), shrinking the hair follicle and causing the hair to fall out. The normal aging process for women begins in their late 50s or 60s. Hair loss at this stage is best addressed using scarves, wigs, or a new hairstyle to camouflage hair loss. Always use high-quality hair products to protect your remaining hair.

HARSH HAIRSTYLES

Common among women, harsh hairstyles can trigger hair loss. Hair extensions, frequent dying, heat-styling such as straightening or curling, hair weaves, and tight ponytails, buns, or braids can all cause hair thinning. They can affect the hair root so the hair doesn’t grow back. Be gentle when styling your hair, use moisturizing conditioner after every hair wash, apply chemical-free hair products, and limit your use of heat-generating products to only once a week.

MEDICAL ILLNESS /MEDICATION

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder that causes the patient to pull out their hair. It affects 4 times as many women as men. Antidepressants and behavior modification therapy are the best treatment options.

Other medical-related conditions and medications such as such as psoriasis, hypothyroidism, overactive immune system (alopecia areata), chemotherapy, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause hair loss. Antidepressants and blood thinners including methotrexate, lithium, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, some antidepressants, and anabolic steroids can cause hair loss. If you can’t stop taking medication, talk with your doctor about switching to a different kind.

PREGNANCY & CHILD BIRTH

Hair shedding is typical after giving birth. It can be equated to an extreme physical stress. This loss of hair is only temporary and normal hair growth will return in a few months. Discontinuing or switching birth control pills can have this same effect. Talk with your doctor about a different prescription.