Both men and women can experience hair loss. It is however much more commonly seen in men. This can lead to women feeling intensely self-conscious about the hair loss that they may be experiencing.
The most common type of hair loss experienced by women, female pattern hair loss, is also referred to as androgenetic alopecia. It is characterized by seeing thinning hair on the sides of the head and all over the top of the head. Men tend to have receding hairlines or bald spots.
While there are some cases where it starts to appear as early as puberty, but most often women experience this type of hair loss after they’ve gone through menopause.
Common causes of female pattern hair loss
It’s important to note that every patient is different, so it’s vital that a consultation with a physician is conducted in order to get to the bottom of your hair loss. There are a number of common causes of female pattern hair loss, however.
Physical stressors could include rapid weight loss, anemia, surgery and an extended illness. Emotional stressors could include the loss of a loved one, or major life changes. A thyroid concern, along with several other hormonal issues can also be responsible for the loss of hair.
Some medications can also lead to female pattern hair loss, including some medications prescribed for high blood pressure.
Contrary to popular belief, wearing hats or washing your hair too often will not cause hair loss.
There is also a genetic component to women developing female pattern baldness.
Treatment of female pattern hair loss
One of the best ways to treat female pattern hair loss is through surgical hair restoration. Medici Capelli hair transplants include cutting edge technology and methods that allow patients to see permanent results. Hair transplants have made great strides over the past several years.
Plastic surgeons now have the ability to transfer the patient’s own hair from a donor site, without the unnatural look of transplants from years gone by. It can take up to 18 months for the new hair growth to be seen.
Topical medications can be used but they don’t always offer the best in permanent solutions for hair loss. The treatment is applied directly to the scalp each day, and it may help to stimulate the growth of new hair. It can take up to six months for patients to see results from topical medications.
Can hair loss be prevented?
If there is a genetic component to the hair loss, then there is not much that can be done in order to prevent hair loss. If the hair loss is being causes by physical and emotional stress factors, or perhaps by medications that are being taken, talking to your doctor about making some key lifestyle and medication changes may be the next step that you take.
Remember that a healthy diet can go a long way toward ensuring that your body feels great. A healthy body is a body that will encourage healthy hair growth.
It’s suggested that patients who have a history of hair loss avoid using harsh chemical treatments on their hair, in order to avoid the potential for future brittle hair or breakage.
