Although hair loss is more often associated with men, women are not at all immune to it. The hair falls in different patterns for men and women, and there are numerous studies online that study these patterns. In most cases, there is a gradual thinning of hair and a change in coloration. In other cases, the hair stops growing altogether.
Research shows that up to two-thirds of the female populace experience hair loss after menopause. Even less than half are fortunate enough to go beyond the age of 65 with a full head of hair. Even if this is a natural phenomenon, there is always hair treatment for women to invigorate hair growth and strengthen the follicles.
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What is Female Pattern Baldness and What Causes It?
Female pattern baldness is the most widely-known type of hair loss for women. More often than not, these are hereditary and appear after the age of 50. Sometimes, hormonal imbalance causes such baldness to occur.
Most women don’t exactly go completely bald. In fact, in female pattern baldness, hair grows slower and takes much longer to restart the hair cycle. In the same light, the hair follicles shrink, producing even thinner strands of hair. This makes each strand quite delicate and breakable.
Doctors categorize three distinct types of female pattern baldness. Type I is where hair thins on the party line. Type II is where the part line extends, and there is an apparent thinning of hair in surrounding areas. Type III involves an overall thinning of the hair, with a see-through portion at the scalp’s crown.
Often, baldness is caused by several factors. It can be caused by something as natural as aging. Likewise, it can be caused by shifts in the body, such as heavy blood loss during menstruation or changes in androgen levels.
Family history of baldness plays a major role as well. Other external factors such as medication and smoking can also pose a risk to developing female pattern baldness.
Get it Diagnosed
Once thinning of the hair is apparent, it is advisable to reach out to trusted dermatologists and hair experts. Facilities like HairMD in Pune provide a wide range of knowledge that can help individuals solve their hair loss problems. Sometimes, doctors may require further tests and inspection to ensure that that the condition is addressed properly.
Typically, female pattern baldness is diagnosed upon ruling out other hair loss conditions, examining hair loss patterns, and familiarizing medical history. Once there is a conclusive diagnosis, the doctor can better prescribe the ideal hair treatment for women.
Hair Treatment for Hair Loss
In most situations, hair care treatment involves an intake of approved medications to prevent hair loss further.
One of the most trusted drugs and the only one approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is known as Minoxidil. It is available in both 5% and 2% dosage, though it is believed that the higher the dosage, the more effective the medication will be.
To get the best results, apply Minoxidil daily on affected areas on the scalp for at least six months. It will revitalize the hair growth to bring back significant thickness and volume. Continue applying this medicine to see long-lasting effects.
Finasteride and dutasteride are alternative medications to treat hair loss. These chemicals help the regrowth of hair on the scalp. Although most commonly used by men, some hair experts recommend this to treat female pattern baldness.
Another possible hair growth medicine is called spironolactone. It not only flushes out excess fluid from the body but also blocks the production of androgen. Androgen is a male hormone present in the female body that can cause hair loss. By blocking its production, spironolactone reduces the rate of hair loss and promotes hair growth.
Other Alternatives
Sadly, female pattern baldness cannot be prevented. However, there are several measures to take care of one’s hair and protect it from breakage. Taking iron supplements and folic acid can aid in keeping hair healthy and strong.
Changing one’s diet to include more omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants is also an effective solution. Other extreme solutions include hair transplant and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP). The latter procedure involves drawing blood and injecting it back into the body.
This is a recent discovery as a solution to hair loss as platelets are seen as promoters of cell growth and regeneration. They secrete growth factors that can assist in possible hair growth. Hair treatment for women has never been more attainable as dermatologists continue to discover new and innovative ways of preventing it.
Conclusion
Hair loss is just as common to women as they are to men, and there are accessible solutions to solve that problem. Although hair loss is part of aging, various medications and treatments are available to slow the process and take care of one’s hair.