Hair loss can occur for many reasons according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Stress and heredity are two of the most common causes of hair loss in women. Androgenetic alopecia is the medical term for thinning hair. A woman may lose hair following a traumatic event such as childbirth, the death of a loved one or surgery. A woman with androgenetic alopecia usually maintains her frontal hairline and experiences a general thinning over the entire head. A number of treatments are available for female hair loss.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an over-the-counter treatment for hair loss in women. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the 2 percent minoxidil solution for women who have hereditary hair loss. Minoxidil promotes hair re-growth in more than half of women with hereditary hair loss reports the AAD.
Minoxidil solution or foam should be applied two times per day. It usually takes about 16 weeks to detect any growth. Minoxidil must be used for an indefinite period in order to maintain its effects. Otherwise further re-growth will cease and new hair will most likely fall out.
Spironlactone
Spironolactone may benefit women whose hair loss is caused by an excess of male hormones according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that has not been approved by the FDA to treat female pattern-baldness. This oral medication raises potassium levels in the blood and should not be used by pregnant women or those with kidney disorders.
Cortisone
Cortisone medications are applied topically or injected into the scalp to help stimulate hair re-growth in women. New hair may be visible four weeks after an injection according to the Mayo Clinic. Cortisone treatments are generally repeated on a monthly basis. Injections may be more effective than creams or ointments.
Hair Transplantation
Hair transplants may be an effective option for women with minimal to moderate heredity hair loss according to AAD. This procedure consists of removing hair from a healthy area of the scalp and transferring to an area that has thinned. A series of transplant sessions may be necessary as new hair loss persists over time.
Hair Pieces
Wigs and hairpieces can be a viable, safe and relatively inexpensive hair loss solution for a woman who would rather not use medications or undergo invasive procedures, according to the National Institutes of Health. Hair pieces, hair weaves or even a new hair style may camouflage hair loss in women.
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