Hair loss and hair shedding in women is a much more common phenomenon than public discourse on the issue lets on. Recent research tells us that approximately twenty-five million women suffer from hair loss in the United States alone. Even more striking, about 40% of women will display some degree of female pattern hair loss by the time they reach age 50. The National Institute of Health reports:
“Fewer than 45% of women go through life with a full head of hair. Female pattern hair loss is the commonest cause of hair loss in women and prevalence increases with advancing age.”
Happily, hair loss prevention and treatment options have greatly grown in popularity, safety, and effectiveness.
There are potentially many causes behind hair loss in women – some of the most common include stress, unhealthy lifestyle choices and consistent usage of chemical sprays and gels. While the aforementioned causes can be found among men as well, certain female-only causes of hair loss may be associated with pregnancy, thyroid disorders and anemia.
Hair loss in women can be devastating for their self-esteem and emotional well-being. The best reaction to sudden or gradual hair loss is not to panic but to start down the road of effective research and proactive inquiry. Ask yourself: have there been any recent changes to my lifestyle that may be having an adverse effect on my hair? Has my diet changed, or perhaps my physical fitness regimen? Diet and exercise are often correlated with hair loss and so careful monitoring of both are important.
Beyond simple self-help methods, it’s highly advisable to visit a local (or non-local) hair loss specialist, as this is the strongest option for those who are unsure about the origin of their female pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia), and are wanting expert diagnosis, treatment and medical advice.
A hair restoration physician will help you navigate treatment options and discover whether you suffer from chronic hair shedding exclusively or if there are a mixture of hormonal and genetic factors at play. This is important, because the nature of your physiology and hair loss pattern will determine what kind of treatment you need and to what extent. Beware, however, of inexperienced or poor practitioners, as small diagnostic errors may result in botched projects if one is not careful.
Treating Female Hair Loss
Based on one’s medical diagnosis and consultation with a hair restoration specialist, medical management of hair loss or transplant surgery will be the solution, yet sometimes both are advised. Board certified physician and hair loss specialist, Dr. Amir Yazdan, for example, recommends over-the-counter minoxidil (Rogaine) to be applied in tandem with groMD shampoo and conditioner to patients experiencing thinning of hair.
More drastic hair loss cases where women exhibit balding or a gap widening on the topmost part of their scalp may require more advanced hair restoration treatments such as an FUE or FUT hair transplant. If a hair transplant is chosen as the best treatment option, it is the expert opinion of Dr. Yazdan and others in the know to recommend the FUT method above that of the FUE, because of visibility concerns and graft volume desires.
Check out this easy video presentation, where Dr. Yazdan explains the persuasive advantages of the FUT procedure:

If you’re suffering with hair loss and would like some information on how we might be able to help, please contact one of our offices at 888-717-5273 or by visiting Modenahair.com.