How to regrow hair for women?

Hair thinning can be a sensitive topic for many people, and apprehension over the subject can prevent many individuals from seeking out the information they need. Hair thinning can be caused by various factors, including medical problems (like Alopecia), treatments (like chemotherapy), or just the natural process of aging.

It’s not uncommon for women to experience hair thinning or loss after menopause or pregnancy, which can be quite upsetting. It is possible to regrow your hair to a length that you choose via at-home remedies and activities or professional procedures.

What Is Female Pattern Baldness?

Female pattern baldness(also known as female pattern hair loss) is a medical disease that can lead to thinning hair, and overall hair loss in women. Unlike male pattern hair loss, women rarely go skin bald, they have very sparsely spaced see through hair. It is one of the primary reasons why women experience hair loss, affecting nearly 50% of the female population by age 50. The hair density on the crown and the frontal hairline are both affected when a woman has female pattern baldness, although seldom is there total loss of hair, especially in the hair line..

The signs and symptoms of female pattern baldness are more likely to appear in women during or just after menopause. On the other hand it can also affect adolescents. The most common cause of female pattern baldness is a hormonal imbalance in the body involving the hormones androgen and estrogen.

The terms alopecia and female pattern baldness are frequently used synonymously when referring to hair loss in women. The progression of female pattern baldness occurs in three stages:

• During Stage I,it’s common for women’s hair to thin, particularly on the crown, and to have some thinning in the area that runs down the middle of their head. Looking like a wide part. It is more prevalent among younger women.
• During Stage II, the midline thinning expands and becomes more evident to the naked eye. Here the “see through” hair extends out over the side of the head, and above the ears.
• When you reach Stage III, your hair density will drop across the entire scalp, including the back and sides of the head. . At this point, a sizable see through patch can be observed on the crown of the head. This stage of female pattern baldness is much more common in women over the age of 70.

Types Of Alopecia (Hair Loss) In Women

• Androgenetic Alopecia

  There is a reasonable probability that you are dealing with androgenetic Alopecia if you have a history of hair loss in your family and if you have recently seen an extraordinary quantity of hair loss in yourself. This kind of hair loss, which is caused by genetics and is the most common cause of hair loss in women, is also referred to as female pattern hair loss.

  If you have this disorder, you have probably noticed some hair transient loss or thinning in your 30’s, but most women really notice a change around 47 to 55 years of age. Recent evidence suggests that the term “androgenetic alopecia” may be a misnomer, as this is a complex problem that may have more than one cause.

  It is important to remember these patients never lose their hair line or go completely skin bald. If that is happening immediately seek an experienced physician to sort out the diagnosis.

• Alopecia Areata

  Alopecia areata is a hair loss that occurs in areas on the scalp and is caused by an autoimmune disorder. It is possible that this will also develop into alopecia totalis or universalis. Alopecia totalis is characterized by a complete loss of hair on the scalp. Alopecia universalis is an uncommon condition that can affect the hair on the body.

• Cicatricial Alopecia

  Cicatricial Alopecia is a kind of hair loss caused by scarring which is the result of inflammatory conditions of the scalp. Some of these are mediated through the body’s immune system, which assaults hair follicles, ultimately inhibiting the creation of new hair. This disorder can affect both men and women, although it is much more common in women.

  This disorder has the potential to cause permanent hair loss, so early medical therapy is important to reduce the amount of permanent loss and protect the donor area so transplant redistribution remains possible.

• Traumatic Styling Alopecia

  This occurs when your hair is harmed by styling chemicals that have the potential to break it or cause harm to it. These are hair fiber problems and do not cause permanent hair loss. Products that generate heat (such as heated combs) and certain chemicals can all contribute to an excessively dry and frizzy appearance in the hair..

  They may remove the necessary oils and moisture from your scalp, which is detrimental to the health of your hair. Because of the damage done to the hair shaft, the hair is more likely to break easily.

  You can try eating foods high in vitamins and minerals, or you can talk to your doctor about getting supplements if you suspect your hair loss might be related to any of these deficiencies.

Treatments For Women’s Hair Loss

• Minoxidil

  Minoxidil is available in a variety of liquid formulations, including foams. It must be administered straight to the scalp, twice daily in order to be effective. Patients diagnosed with Alopecia may be given oral minoxidil as a prescription treatment. It’s possible that you won’t see any progress until you’ve been using it consistently for four months at least.

• Topical Tretinoin

  Your physician may suggest taking this in conjunction with minoxidil. There is some evidence that using topical Tretinoin might make hair loss worse. Therefore, following up with your physician if they have prescribed the same course of action is essential.

• Corticosteroids

  These drugs can be taken either topically (applied to the skin) or orally (ingested). For Alopecia Areata, steroid injections into the bald spots on the scalp are the most effective therapy for this condition. In a few weeks, you could find that your hair has begun to come back. The treatment may be repeated once every four to six weeks as needed.

  Atrophy of the skin and a reduction in the thickness of the scalp are two potential side effects of corticosteroids. Talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options if you experience these unwanted effects.

• Hair Transplant Surgery

  Suppose you do not see any difference in the condition of your hair loss after trying topical and oral medicine for it. In that case, you may even discuss with your doctor the possibility of more invasive treatments. Hair transplantation may be potential choices for someone in your position.

  However, men are far more likely to get hair transplants than women. This is due to the fact that hair loss in woman is a more complex problem, with many potential causes, and not all are treatable with a surgical intervention. Before undergoing any surgical procedures, you should discuss the potential risks and benefits with a physician experienced hair loss.

Are You Thinking of Getting A Hair Transplant?

Women’s hair loss can be attributed to changes in hormone levels, stress, and genetics. Several medical disorders can cause disruptions in hormone levels, and one of these is hair loss. However, there are therapies available, both topically and orally as well as surgically, that can encourage hair growth and assist in alleviating such problems.

It is usually advisable to treat the problem’s root cause before treating its symptoms. If you are experiencing any medical difficulties, seeking treatment for them may even help reduce the amount of hair loss you are experiencing.

Imagine that you have talked about treatments with your doctor or discovered that other conventional hair regeneration methods have yet to work for you. In that situation, you need to consider undergoing a hair transplant as soon as possible. If the opinion of your medical team is that there is a reasonable probability that you will experience beneficial effects from this treatment and that you are a good candidate for the transplant, you ought to think about getting the transplant.

Are you thinking of getting a hair transplant? Concerned that this might not be the best course of treatment, given the specifics of your case? Our Houston hair restoration specialists would be more than pleased to provide you with a free consultation for a hair transplant or to assist you with any inquiries that you may have regarding the cost of our services.

References

Famenini S, Slaught C, Duan L, Goh C. Demographics of women with female pattern hair loss and the effectiveness of spironolactone therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Oct;73(4):705-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.06.063. PMID: 26369846; PMCID: PMC4573453.

Pratt, C., King, L., Messenger, A. et al. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers 3, 17011 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.11

LINAS, S. L., & NIES, A. S. (1981). Minoxidil. Annals of internal medicine, 94(1), 61-65.