Women’s Hair Loss Causes & Solutions FAQ
SHEAR POINTE HAIR RESTORATION – DETROIT, MICHIGAN
SAY GOODBYE TO HAIR LOSS ANXIETY
Women’s Hair Loss FAQ: Causes & Treatment Options
Understanding the causes of female hair loss is the first step on the journey to doing something about it. Knowing and understanding the type and degree of your hair loss helps determine which hair loss treatment or hair restoration procedure will give you the best results. Here is a quick guide to knowing the differences and helping you identify your type and degree of hair thinning.
As always, before pursuing any hair loss remedy, you should always consult with your primary care physician and dermatologist.
Female Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia)
For most women who experience hair loss, the most come type is androgenetic alopecia which is often referred to as female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss refers to hair thinning predominately over the top and sides of the head. Over one third of all susceptible women are affected by it. While it is most often seen after menopause, it can begin in a woman’s teen years. Typically, women experience normal hair shedding of approximately 100-125 strands of hair per day. This is perfectly normal, and these hairs regrow. Visible hair loss happens when this amount of hair shedding significantly increases beyond the 125 hair/day norm. Women can inherit androgenetic alopecia from either of their parents.
Telogen Effluvium
Two related types of female hair loss are known medically as Telogen Effluvium and Anagen Effluvium. Anagen Effluvium can occur because of medication such as those used in chemotherapy treatment poison the growing hair follicle, since these types of medication are designed to attack rapidly growing cells in the body. Telogen effluvium occurs when an abnormally large number of hair follicles go into the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. Most common causes of Telogen Effluvium include:
- Physical stress: illness, surgery, anemia, childbirth, Covid-19, or extreme stress on the human nervous system.
- Extreme emotional stress.
- Thyroid abnormalities.
- Medications: High doses of Vitamin A, Blood pressure and Gout medications.
- Hormonal causes: pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause.
- When the above causes of telogen effluvium are reversed or altered normal hair growth typically resumes in most cases.
Hormonal Considerations
One of the most common causes of female hair loss is from hormonal changes. Many women may not know or realize that hair loss can happen after a pregnancy or even after discontinuation of birth control pills. You should know that hair loss can be delayed as long as three months following any hormonal changes and an additional three months will be required for new hair to grow and be fully achieved.
Degrees of Female Hair Loss
The Ludwig Female Hair Loss Chart can help you visualize how much hair you have and your degree of female pattern hair loss and thinning. Depending on your specific level of hair loss and age, a variety of solutions are available, including non-surgical hair replacement, hair transplant surgery, and laser hair therapy.
- Category 1: Dispersed light-thinning throughout the top of the scalp can be characterized by having light-transparency through the hair to the point that the scalp begins to be seen.
- Category 2: Moderate thinning throughout the top of scalp usually characterized by some more transparency through the hair with the scalp showing.
- Category 3: Advanced thinning throughout the top of scalp usually characterized by more scalp than hair showing.
- Advanced 1: A great deal of thinning throughout the top and often the sides of the scalp. There is very little hair coverage at this stage.
- Advanced 2: A great deal of thinning to complete baldness throughout the top of the scalp. Thinning on the sides and occipital regions as well.
Female Hair Loss Treatment Options & Solutions
Nearly 60% of women experience hair loss to some degree sometime during their lifetime. The causes are wide-ranging, from hereditary hair loss to thyroid conditions, hormone levels, trauma, and other causes. The most common, and chronic, cause is a genetic or hereditary hair loss, referred to medically as androgenetic alopecia. Solutions for hair loss in women can include:
- Non-Surgical Hair Replacement and Integration Systems: Women’s hair replacement systems and additions have the ability to simulate a true natural appearance while offering the client a significant increase in overall density.
- Hair Transplant Surgery: Modern techniques in hair transplant surgery have made hair transplants for women a viable option.
- Laser Hair Rejuvenation: A non-surgical treatment utilizing therapeutic low-level lasers to deliver light energy designed to treat thin, fine, damaged hair. Laser hair therapy can be especially effective when dealing with traction alopecia.
- Topical hair loss treatments: There are several proven topical hair loss control products available, including minoxidil (FDA approved for use by women) that have proven beneficial in controlling hair loss, especially when combined with low level laser light therapy.
Women’s Hair Loss: What Shear Pointe Can Offer
At Shear Pointe Hair Restoration in Detroit (Birmingham), Michigan, we are dedicated to providing the best and most up to date hair restoration solutions.
We encourage you to contact us soon to arrange a private, in-person consultation to discuss your concerns and have all your questions answered. We are dedicated to helping you find the correct hair restoration solution for your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget.
