Treatments to Stop Female Hair Loss And To Restore Hair Growth
Hair loss is something that happens to some women at some point in their lives. More than two-thirds of postmenopausal women are suffering from thin hair or bald spots or. Hair loss tends to have more of a negative impact on women. This is because female pattern hair loss is not socially acceptable, and its side effects can be on both mental and physical health.
Female hair loss is the same as male hair loss, called androgenetic alopecia, or FPHL. Men often lose their hair from above their temples, followed by a receding hairline. The top also thins out and eventually can result in baldness. Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss) usually starts at the part line and gradually moves to the crown of the head, but it may also happen in a diffuse pattern. Women rarely see a hairline recession or total baldness.
How can I tell if I have female pattern hair loss?
The following are signs that indicate a person about the female pattern hair loss :
- Dry hair
- Thinning Hair
- Hair Fall
- Dry Scalp Skin
- Split Ends
- Damaged Hair Shaft
If you’ve been noticing hair loss symptoms, as mentioned above, then go see a dermatologist. They’re experts at diagnosing and treating these kinds of conditions. A doctor can inform you what’s causing your hair loss. They’ll also tell you if it’s something other than FPHL since FPHR and other conditions can look the same.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Several serious issues cause female pattern hair loss in women. In cases of FPHL, the cause is a combination of genetics and hormones. Some factors contributing to hair loss and thinning of hair follicles are typically health issues that have damaged or compromised blood flow into them. Following are the causes of hair thinning and baldness.
Hair Follicles:
The hair follicles are the part of the hair that produces or grows new hair. When the hair follicle gets weak, and one observes gradual thinning of hair, you need hair care badly. Some external factors can damage your follicles and can step you up towards baldness. It includes harsh chemicals in shampoos or conditioners, pollution from smoke and exhaust fumes, and styling products like gels or sprays containing waxes or alcohols.
Hormonal Changes:
Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss:
It is good to avoid physical or emotional stress. Telogen effluvium hair may be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Breastfeeding women experience temporary hair loss due to pregnancy or delivery – particularly if they’re anemic. It also happens when there isn’t enough iron in your body. It causes your hair to stop growing for a short time and then start again. The joyous news is that as soon as you get back to a normal diet, your hair will stop falling out and start growing back again.
If you are stressed, you should take a break from all your activities until the stress level decreases. Sometimes this happens when you get enough sleep or have enough time to relax.
Androgenetic Alopecia:
As the name suggests, Androgenetic alopecia is related to the production of androgens. These hormones are essential for providing important roles in sex drive and hair growth. The condition might be inherited & involve more than one gene. It can also happen if an endocrine condition like overproduction of androgen (androgen-secreting tumor in the ovary, pituitary, or adrenal gland) is present. In either case, alopecia is probably caused by a higher level of androgens.
Unlike in men, though, it’s harder to figure out whether it’s the result of an increased androgen level or something else. It is on the chance that an androgen-secreting tumor is involved. It’s important to measure androgen levels and female pattern hair loss in women. It is important for people who suffer from female pattern hair loss to measure androgen levels to diagnose an androgen-secreting tumor.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ( PCOS):
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects many women in the world. It’s thought to be genetic and may sometimes have no symptoms at all. Some of the causes of hormonal hair loss in women can include PCOS. These symptoms may be seen by the growing body & facial hair.
Be aware of birth control pills:
If women do not use prenatal contraceptives, they can develop hormonal hair loss. Furthermore, when used by individuals on birth control, they can induce hair thinning. Your family’s history of hair loss probably is to blame. Hormones aren’t the only chemicals that can cause hair loss. Blood lowering medications can also cause low blood pressure. Depression, heart illness, and arthritis are all treated in the same way. When you stop promoting your hair growth with birth control pills, some people may experience.
Medical Conditions:
High Blood Pressure ( HBP):
HBP makes hair-thin, dry, and frizzy. In fact, almost 30% of females are losing their hair because of it. Additionally, those with high blood output had twice the risk of those without it.
Traction Alopecia:
Physical or emotional stress causes hair loss, called telogen effluvium. It may be triggered by serious illness or injury, surgery, severe emotional upset, weight loss, and so on. Sometimes a reaction to medication may trigger this kind of hair loss. The condition is typically temporary, often lasting for 6-8 months before eventually healing or resolving.
Alopecia Areata:
Alopecia areata is a condition that occurs when hair follicles are attacked by the body’s immune system and stop producing hair. Alopecia is a skull skin disease that can cause patchy hair loss on your head and other places on your body. It’s not usually permanent.
Radiation Therapy:
It also causes hair loss. During the treatment, you lose hair that’s close to where the radiation comes out. Afterward, your scalp may be temporarily more sensitive.
Tight Hairstyles:
Hair can also be pulled out by too-tight hairstyles, such as tight braids and tight ponytails. Usually, some hairs will start to break when you wear your hair up tightly or in a ponytail with no give in the elastic.
Nutritional Deficiencies:
It may stop hair from growing. If you are not taking a balanced healthy diet or your body lacks essential nutrients, this can stop any part of the body from growing properly. Hair shedding is a common symptom of nutritional deficiency. Sometimes if women stop eating their vegetables and start filling up on junk food, they stop receiving all the proper nutrition that their body needs to regrow hair.
Ringworm and Hair Loss:
Ringworm is a fungal disease that causes patches of hair loss. Early treatment is very important to cure the itchy red blisters and spots with temporary balding are the affected surfaces. Tinea capitis is the official medical name for the hair ringworm infection. Brittle hair results from the growth of brittle hair, which breaks off. It’s transmitted via skin-to-skin contact and acquired through contaminated toothbrushes and shaving equipment. The skin may appear especially crimson at the lesion’s edge, whereas the center is normal.
Life Cycle:
Hair grows in a three-stage process. The first (anagen phase) lasts 2-7 years, while the second (catagen phase) only lasts 2 weeks. In this phase, the shaft goes up, and the dermal papilla separates from the follicle. The telogen phase, the resting phase, usually lasts for around 3 months and culminates in the shedding of the hair shaft.
A doctor diagnoses hair loss by interviewing the patient and inspecting the scalp. The doctor will check the type of hair loss the patient is experiencing and perform other tests depending on hair loss. Possible causes include inflammation or infection, a thyroid issue, and even a lack of iron. Unless it is obvious that the patient is exhibiting symptoms of androgen excess, a hormonal workup is typically not necessary.
Men and women losing their hair may have done so because they have a gene that shortens the phase of hair growth and lengthens the time between shedding it and growing hair again. It also means that hair follicles start growing back slower. This is due to a change in the hair follicle, which completes its cycle faster, producing smaller and thinner hair. As a result, terminal hairs are thick, pigmented, and long-lived. In contrast, vellus hairs are short, thin, and non-pigmented.
Treatments To Stimulate Hair Growth:
The Mediterranean Diet:
Research from 2018 shows that a diet high in fresh vegetables and herbs (such as the Mediterranean diet) may prevent or delay androgenic hair loss.
The most significant advantages were seen in those who consumed these foods more than three days each week: parsley, basil, and salad greens.
Proteins:
Hair follicles are mainly composed of keratin, a protein. According to one study from 2017, many nutritional deficiencies were discovered in participants, including substances that act as the basic components of protein.
Eating a diet high in protein may help prevent hair loss, according to researchers. Foods such as eggs, nuts, beans and peas, fish, low-fat dairy products, chicken, and turkey are examples of healthy options.
Multivitamin:
Vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, selenium, and zinc are required for hair development and retention. Vitamin A is especially important to cell turnover. You can get a daily multivitamin from your local grocery store or pharmacy or ask your doctor if they will prescribe one for you.
Vitamin D has been linked to nonscarring alopecia in a 2018 study. Deficiencies may aid in regrowth. Daily doses of 800 to 1000 IU are recommended by doctors.
Biotin:
Topical medication includes BiotinBiotin that is an essential component of fatty acid synthesis in the body. This process is crucial to the hair’s life cycle and for stimulating hair growth. Take three to five milligrams of BiotinBiotin per day, as advised by your doctor.
Saw Palmetto:
The plant is derived from American dwarf pine trees and has been proven to help maintain testosterone levels in men. A 2004 journal article found that 60% of people who used saw palmetto had better hair growth. The study used 200 mg per day.
Ginseng:
Like other plants in the Panax genus, Ginseng has anabolic substances that stimulate hair development on the scalp. To determine the right dosage, more research is required. Talk to your doctor about using ginseng tablets, or topical treatments that contain this component.
Regular Washing:
Washing your hair every day might help prevent hair loss by maintaining the scalp clean and healthy. The key is to use a mild shampoo. Hair can be damaged when it is dried with a harsh cleanser, resulting in loss of hair.
Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil is the best hair loss treatment. Coconut oil’s lauric acid binds a protein in the hair, preventing breakage at the root and strand. Massaging coconut oil into the scalp might improve blood flow and aid in regrowth.
Olive Oil:
Olive oil can be used to deep condition hair, preserving it from dryness and breakage. Olive oil is also an important component of the Mediterranean diet, which may help to prevent genetic hair loss. Before washing out, add a few tablespoons of olive oil directly to your hair and leave for 30 minutes.
Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is perfect for getting healthy fine hair and preventing hair loss. It contains the antioxidant enzyme that is Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD works to protect cells from damage by free radicals.
Tea Tree Oil:
Tea tree oil can be used as a topical treatment for hair loss. Most women apply it directly to the scalp and massage daily to combat dryness, itching, and flakiness.
Green Tea:
Both green and black tea are natural remedies for hair loss. For better results, make a hair mask using 1 teaspoon of honey, 2 tablespoons of green and black tea mixed with 1/2 cup water; apply to the scalp and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing out.
How Do I Stop Thinning Hair?
An implant of synthetic hair, usually in the form of a short braid, is surgically placed on your scalp. Then the new hair grows through the thinning scalp and replaces what you lost. Hair fibers can be used by women who want short-term solutions of thicker hair for special occasions such as weddings or high school proms.
Medical Treatments for Hair Growth :
If you curb the female hair loss right away, new hairs may begin to arrive within six months. If hair loss was caused by a medical condition, your doctor would prescribe medications that stop the underlying cause of hair loss and help to stop hair loss. These include hormonal therapies that stop estrogen production and/or block DHTI. Since many drugs stop hair loss, you may want to consult with a dermatologist or other health care provider for the best treatment to stop female hair loss.
Hair Transplant Surgery:
Hair transplantation, a method first developed to treat androgenic alopecia in the United States in the 1950s, involves removing a strip of scalp from the back of the head and using it to cover up a bald spot. Today, 90% of hair transplant surgeons employ follicular unit transplantation, which was created in 1996.
They remove a small strip of the scalp during this operation and divide it into hundreds of tiny grafts, each containing only a few hairs. Each transplant is put in a cut in the scalp caused by a blade or needle. Hair grows naturally in clusters of one to four follicles, known as follicular units, due to which the graft looks better than the larger “plugs” associated with hair transplants of yesteryear.
Hair loss Minoxidil:
Rogaine is a drug used to treat high blood pressure and female pattern hair loss, but it can also aid in hair regeneration. People who took medicine in clinical trials noticed fur restored in areas where their hair had been lost. When minoxidil is applied directly to the scalp, research indicates that it can help promote hair growth.
Anti-Androgens:
Androgens are hormones that stimulate the development of male characteristics in males, including hair growth. Women’s androgenic alopecia can be treated with:
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- An Anti-androgen Drug
- Testosterone and other “Male” Hormones.
This anti-androgen is especially true for women with PCOS because they make an excess of androgens. Doctors will usually prescribe spironolactone along with an oral contraceptive for women of reproductive age.
Laser Therapy:
A laser comb is a low-level laser device that can be used for hair treatment. FDA has approved low-level laser devices like helmets to cure hair loss. These devices emit a low amount of laser radiation that might stimulate new hair growth. A few studies indicate that it may help fight FPHL.
Finasteride:
Propecia is a prescription drug that may aid in the prevention and even acceleration of hair loss. It’s designed for men and works best for males under the age of 60 years old. Those women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should avoid taking Propecia.
Phenylephrine:
By contracting the follicle muscles, topical phenylephrine may help with hair loss caused by styling. This makes it more difficult to remove hairs during brushing, for example. Unfortunately, you’ll have to keep an eye out for this medical intervention. Scientists have come up with a unique combination known as AB-102.
Nutritional Iron Supplements:
Sudden hair loss occurs due to iron deficiency in some women. If you’re a vegetarian, have anemia or heavy menstrual bleeding history, or are pregnant, your doctor may check your blood iron level. If you have iron depletion, you will need to take a supplement, but doing so will only induce side effects such as upset stomach and constipation.
FAQ’s
Q: What causes hair breakage?
A: Hair breakage is mainly caused by heat damage. When using a hairdryer, use the cool setting; the cold air helps set the hair follicle and reduce breakage.
Q: What are the best treatments for female hair thinning?
A: The most effective treatments for hair thinning in women are bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and topical Rogaine. Laser comb therapy is another option for those with diffuse hair loss; however, it has not been proven to stimulate new growth.