Hair Loss in Women: When Should You Worry?
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“This is a chronic and slow type of hair loss where women start to notice that their part gets wider and their scalp becomes more visible. They may also notice some recession along their hair line, typically in the shape of an M,” Dr. Piliang says. The most common cause of female hair loss worldwide is female pattern baldness, which is also called androgenetic alopecia .
Prescription medication that can regrow hair
Your treatment plan will likely consist of one or more medications approved to treat the condition. As mentioned above, it’s important to seek the professional help of a board-certified dermatologist if you’re battling hair loss. Only she can pinpoint what’s behind your shedding—and come up with an effective treatment plan.
Hair Loss in Women
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And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent further hair loss or restore growth. Severe cases can even lead to cicatricial or frontal fibrosing alopecia due to tight hairstyles, causing inflammation, irritation, and itching. In this case, inflammation can scar the area and permanently damage hair follicles, preventing future growth.’ He adds.
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
If you’re not getting enough of one or more of these, you can have noticeable hair loss. A scalp infection can lead to scaly and sometimes inflamed areas on your scalp. You may see what look like small black dots on your scalp.
What makes alopecia worse?
For the purposes of this article, we use “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth. Your doctor gently scrapes skin samples from your scalp and sends them to a lab for testing. Looking at your scalp lets your doctor check for any infections or swelling and see where your hair’s falling out. Your doctor may use a lighted microscope to look for any hair shaft disorders. You also have the option of topical corticosteroids, but they aren’t necessarily as effective.
Best Hair Regrowth Treatments
People who are battling alopecia areata tend to notice big clumps and chunks of hair falling out. Scalp ringworm, which is caused by a fungus, requires antifungal medication. Finasteride tends to be more effective if you begin taking it when you first notice hair loss. A dermatologist may also prescribe this medication to treat a woman who has hereditary hair loss and cannot get pregnant.
What is female pattern hair loss?
Whatever the cause of your hair loss, seeking medical attention from your primary care doctor or a dermatologist can help you identify underlying causes. Treatments for hair loss are more likely to be successful if started early. It’s important to keep in mind that hair growth is a complex process and multiple tests may be needed to understand what is causing your hair loss. A biopsy may also be taken if it is initially very unclear what the root causes may be. Most healthy people lose up to 100 strands of hair per day.
Hair loss can sometimes be a sign of an underlying disease. Hair usually regrows when your hormones get back to normal. Your hair can regain its usual fullness 6 to 9 months after childbirth.
Prescription oral medications
Low-dose oral minoxidil (prescribed off-label) has been found to be effective and safe for most patients, Mirmirani says. Other oft-used drugs include finasteride (Propecia) and spironolactone. Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a distinctive form of diffuse hair loss that occurs in women with androgenetic alopecia. Around 40% of women by age 50 show signs of hair loss and less than 45% of women reach the age of 80 with a full head of hair.
Oral corticosteroids may cause a range of unwanted side effects. While research on the benefits of ketoconazole for hair loss shows promise, experts agree on the need for randomized controlled trials to support these findings. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, but regardless of the cause, it can feel pretty distressing — even if it’s temporary. Hair tends to regrow on its own when the rubbing stops. Some people pull on their hair, often to relieve stress.
Many of these treatments are still in the early testing phases though, and more research will be necessary. Female pattern baldness often results in thinning all over the scalp and might look like widening or thinning around the part. It typically occurs after age 65 but, for some females, it can begin early in their lives. Anyone can have androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). These hair changes can make it hard to maintain how you want to look, especially if you're transgender or nonbinary (which means you don't identify as fully male or female). You may want to shift where hair grows (or doesn't) to reflect your affirmed gender.
Hair regrowth usually begins within a few months after you finish treatment. Female pattern baldness is easy to recognize, so you don’t necessarily need a healthcare provider to diagnose it. However, a healthcare provider can confirm it during a physical exam of your scalp. They’ll ask you about your medical history, including when you started noticing hair loss and whether you have a family history of hair loss or baldness. Your provider will note the width of your center part and any areas of your scalp showing signs of thinning or balding. It’s the most significant cause of hair loss in women and people AFAB.
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