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How to Treat Female Hair Loss will walk you through the types of hair loss experienced by women and the treatments which can help prevent further hair loss and stimulate new growth.
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When to See a Doctor
- The Mayo Clinic recommends that you talk to your doctor if you notice "sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair."[1]
- Unlike male hair loss, which is most often the result of hereditary male pattern baldness, the cause of female hair loss is much more difficult to pin down.[2] It can be temporary, resulting from a short-term event like pregnancy, but it might indicate the onset of a more serious and longer-lasting condition.[3] It is likely that your doctor will run a battery of tests, including a scalp sample and blood work, to eliminate certain hair loss triggers.[4]
- Be prepared to answer the following questions to help your doctor make his or her diagnosis:
- How would you characterize your hair loss? (Thinning at the scalp, noticeably shedding all over, etc.)
- How long has the hair loss been happening?
- What is your immediate family's history with hair loss?
- What are your hairstyling habits? (Chemical treatments, pulling it tightly, using a curling iron, etc.)
- Have you had any recent illnesses?
- What medications are you taking?
- What is your diet like?
Causes of Hair Loss
- Hair loss is an interruption of the hair's normal growth cycle. A strand of hair grows at a rate of approximately 1/2 inch per month. It grows for two to six years, rests and then falls out. A new strand grows to replace it. This cycle continues in a random pattern of growth and shedding. If the cycle is interrupted and shedding starts to occur synchronously, you encounter hair loss.[1]
- According to Dr. Judith Reichman, "A shock to the body's system, which stresses the hair follicles, is often to blame for this change in cyclical hair events."[2] These "shocks" may include:
- Sudden hormone change
- Birth of a baby
- Discontinuing birth control pills
- Acute trauma (surgery, physical or psychological trauma)
- Severe dieting
- Under- or overactive thyroid
- Chemotherapy
- Diseases (diabetes, lupus, etc.)
- Medications (blood pressure medication, anti-depressants, etc.)
- Fungal infections (ringworm, syphilis, etc.)
Can How You Style Your Hair Cause Hair Loss?
- According to Dr. Judith Reichman, repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight ponytail or using extensions can cause some hair loss from the temple area.If it goes untreated, it can [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14342447/ cause permanent damage to the h
- Hair loss expert Dr. Ted Daly says, "Damage from hair care products or procedures generally causes breakage—which is not the same as hair loss that occurs at the level of the hair follicle—so it's rare that anything you can put on your hair is
Hair Loss Treatments
- Once your dermatologist or another medical specialist has diagnosed the cause of your hair loss, he or she will recommend a treatment. Some of the most common treatments for female hair loss may include:
- Corticoid steroids: Given as a pill, topical ointment or local injection.[1]
- Minoxidil: Over-the-counter topical preparation known by the brand name Rogaine.[2]
- Topical sensitizers: When applied to scalp, can stimulate the hair follicles.[3]
- Oral Contraceptives: Low androgen index birth control pills.[4]
- Anthralin: Also known as Dritho-Scalp and available as a cream or topical ointment.[5]
- For a more complete list and description of therapies, visit one of the following medical sites:
- American Hair Loss Association: Women's Hair Loss: Treatment
- WedMD: Hair Loss In Women: Treatments That Work
- MayoClinic.com: Hair Loss: Treatment
Natural Treatments for Hair Loss
- According to dermatologist Dr. Michael Reed, what you eat may not put hair on your head, but it can help the hair you have remain healthier longer. Some of the foods recommended by Dr. Reed and NYU Medical Center nutritionist Dr. Samantha Heller for promoting good hair health include:
