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What Causes Hair Loss in Women?
Causes of Hair Loss in Women
Hair loss is often discussed when it comes to men. But as many women know all too well, hair loss affects women, too.
Also known as female-pattern baldness, it can contribute to a profound loss of confidence and discomfort with how you look.
Fortunately, there are treatments for hair loss in women – but it’s important to catch it early, before the loss becomes permanent.
We’ll cover the common causes of female hair loss and go over potential solutions.
The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia.
This is an inherited sensitivity to DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone, which can cause hair follicles to shrink. Androgenic alopecia effects an estimated 30 million women in the US. A simple blood test can measure your DHT level and allow your medical provider to recommend directed treatment.
Another common cause of female hair loss is menopause.
During menopause, the body halts production of Estrogen and Progesterone, which can cause women to lose their hair. Hair may also thin and become more brittle due to these hormonal changes.
Perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause when the body is readying for the change, can cause these symptoms, as well.
Other Causes of Hair Loss in Women Include:
- Chronic stress – Over time, stress can reduce blood flow to the hair follicles and cause hair thinning and hair loss.
- Nutrition – If you’re severely depleted in key nutrients, it can affect the health of your hair.
- Lifestyle – Factors like illicit drugs, smoking, and heavy drinking can impact your hair follicles and lead to thinning hair.
- Certain medications – Prescriptions for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, and acne can lead to hair loss. Be sure to check the side effects of your medication to see if this could be contributing.
Does Hair Loss Look Different in Women?
While men typically develop receding hairlines or bald spots on the crown, hair loss in women can manifest differently.
Has your ponytail gotten thinner? Women typically experience general hair thinning all over the head, and thinning at the part of the hair. You may notice that your hair is wispier at the front of your hairline, as well.
Eventually hair loss can lead to permanent baldness, which may expand outward from the part.
Treatments for Hair Loss in Women
When caused by androgenic alopecia, medical treatment is often necessary to slow the process.
Medications your provider may recommend to treat hair loss and thinning include:
Minoxidil
This treatment works to promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the follicles. It’s most effective when used soon after the onset of hair loss.
Latanoprost
This medication has shown promise in treating hair loss and improving hair density when applied topically. It often works best in combination with other hair loss treatments.
Spironolactone
This medication may help treat female pattern baldness caused by excessive androgen production. It’s available in tablet form.
Ketoconazole
This medication is typically used as an anti-fungal, but it has shown evidence of reducing androgen production, including DHT.
Azelaic Acid
This natural acid has antibacterial properties and demonstrates an ability to reduce the amount of DHT in the body.
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Defy Medical offers access to topical hair formulas that combine these ingredients for a comprehensive treatment. View hair loss options in the patient portal.
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Another innovative treatment option for hair loss is PRP injections.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrated blend of the healing and growth factors in your blood. When injected into the scalp, PRP can encourage hair growth and follicle repair. Many patients report a noticeable increase in hair thickness after PRP injections.
Dedy Medical offers PRP injections for hair loss at our clinic in Tampa, FL. This treatment works best for thinning hair, so it’s important to catch and address hair loss as soon as possible.
When female hair loss is caused by menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may help. HRT replaces the hormones that your body stops producing, often leading to relief from hormone imbalance symptoms, including ongoing hair thinning.
Defy Medical offers Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for women in perimenopause and menopause.
When you’re stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This hormone helps you react to stress and triggers a flight or fight response.
When your stress in ongoing, the continuous release of cortisol can interrupt the hair growth cycle, causing your hair to fall out and stop growing.
For stress-related issues, identify what’s causing the ongoing tension and see if you can adjust your life to be less stressful. If this isn’t possible, you can consider ways to manage chronic stress.
Hair loss can occur when you have severe nutritional deficiencies.
Blood testing can identify if you have a deficiency in key nutrients. Vitamin D, Iron, and Selenium are common causes of nutrition-related hair loss.
Once you’ve identified your deficiency or deficiencies, you can supplement to help elevate your levels. Defy Medical offers access to a range of high-quality, bioavailable supplements. You can also add Biotin to your nutritional regimen, which may support stronger hair and nails.
Adjusting your diet so you’re eating more nutrient-dense foods like whole grains, vegetables, and fruit can help, as well.
If your hair loss is caused by lifestyle factors, identifying these factors and making changes is a good idea.
For example, nicotine can constrict blood vessels and interrupt blood flow to hair follicles. By starting a smoking cessation program, you can address this issue.
If your hair loss is a side effect of medications, speak to your prescribing doctor and see if there are alternatives with fewer side effects.
If there aren’t other options and you need to continue the prescriptions, consider hair loss medical treatments to combat the side effects.
Hair Loss Therapies at Defy Medical
Hair loss is difficult to deal with and can leave your confidence shaken. Defy Medical offers therapies for female pattern baldness and hair loss, so you can work toward restoring your hair.
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