While most hair loss treatments are geared toward men, it’s no secret that many women struggle with shedding and thinning. Female pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss that women experience. Various things, including hormonal shifts, stress, thyroid issues, and environmental factors, can trigger it.
While dealing with this condition can be difficult, it is treatable. We’ve gathered some of the most effective solutions here for your reference.
What causes hair loss in women?
Before getting to the treatments, it is important that we have a good understanding of what causes the condition in the first place.
Hormones
Like male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss is caused by shifting hormones in the body. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) miniaturizes hair follicles, causing diffuse thinning across the scalp.
Menopause
As menopause affects the production of multiple hormones in the body, it can trigger hair loss and thin in women. Sensitivity to DHT increases, causing the hair and hairline to experience shedding.
Thyroid issues
An overactive (hyperthyroidism) and underactive (hypothyroidism) thyroid can cause hair loss. Luckily, this type of hair loss is less serious than hormonal hair loss and will usually reverse once the underlying issues are addressed.
Stress
Hair loss caused by stress is referred to as Telogen Effluvium and usually occurs two to three months after a stressful event. Just like thyroid-related hair loss, it is usually temporary. Hair loss caused by rapid weight loss is also temporary.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
If your iron levels are low, this could potentially cause hair loss. Your healthcare provider may recommend dietary changes or an iron supplement to adjust this.
Natural remedies for hair loss
One of the easiest and most essential things you can do to maintain your hair is to take supplements that promote healthy hair growth. Deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals can be a potential factor in hair loss:
- Essential fatty acids
- Biotin
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin A
- B complex
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Copper
- Iodine
- Iron
- Selenium
- Silica
- Zinc
While supplementing is important, you should never overdo it. Taking too much of a supplement could potentially cause an imbalance, leading to hair loss.
PRP Injections
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections have been shown to slow down hair loss and elicit new hair growth. Injections are usually spread out at two-month intervals for six months.
LLLT
This procedure involves applying cool laser light energy to the scalp to stimulate hair growth and slow hair loss. With this technique, light is absorbed by skin cells to promote protein synthesis. When applied to hair follicles, miniaturization is reversed, and hair strands grow thicker and stronger. This treatment has been FDA-approved for male pattern baldness and has been found to be just as effective for female pattern hair loss.
FUE
FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction, a procedure that involves transplanting individually harvested hair follicles into regions of thinning or hair loss. There is no linear scar left behind, as with the FUT method, and the final result is elegant and natural. Patients usually see regrowth within 3-4 months on average. Having an ample supply of thick, lustrous donor hairs for transplant is essential, however.
What is the takeaway?
All in all, female pattern hair loss is a difficult but fairly common condition. Women experiencing hair loss should consult with a physician to decide on a treatment that is right for them. Whatever form of baldness you are confronted with, know that you have many options to help you fight back.