Female-pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, usually becomes evident as hair turns increasingly shorter and finer, notes the Mayo Clinic. Permanent hair loss in women is generally confined to a thinning on the front, sides and top of the head. In most cases, women keep their frontal hairline. Temporary hair loss due to childbirth or menopause generally bounces back six to 24 months later. A number of remedies are available to treat and mask thinning frontal hair in women.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was originally being used as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure when it was discovered that a side effect of the drug was excessive hair growth, notes the American Hair Loss Association or AHLA. Today, minoxidil, brand name Rogaine, is used to treat male and female-pattern baldness that may include frontal hair thinning. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp to help slow or stop hair loss and promote re-growth, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC.
The 2 percent concentration is recommended for women while the more potent 5 percent solution is typically reserved for male-pattern baldness. It can take several weeks for new hair growth to appear. The benefits of using minoxidil will stop when treatment ends.
Finasteride
Finasteride, sold commerically as Propecia and Proscar, is an oral hair loss medication that works by blocking the production of the hair follicle killing hormone dihydrotestosterone or DHT, reports Drugs.com. Finasteride was the first prescription pill approved by the FDA to treat male-pattern baldness. It may also help to treat frontal hair loss in women, reports the AHLA.
Women who are pregnant should not use finasteride because it may cause birth defects in a male fetus.
Hormone Replacement
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, may help to reverse frontal hair loss caused by hormonal flucutations during menopause, notes the ALHA. Estrogen and progesterone creams and oral supplements are sometimes prescribed to help to balance hormones during this time of life, according to the Mayo Clinic. Talk to your doctor about the potential risks associated with HRT.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplantion may effectively treat hair loss when other methods have failed. Hair transplants involve removing very small plugs of skin that still contain hairs and moving them to the bald or thinning sections, reports the Mayo Clinic. A number of transplantation sessions are usually required for the best results.
Camouflage
A new hair style, hair pieces or hair weaves may help cover frontal hair loss in women. Wearing hats or scarves can also be a safe and inexpensive way to mask thinning hair, notes the Mayo Clinic.
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