Many hair loss products are available for women, but only the nonprescription drug minoxidil has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat female hair loss. However, research from various sources and the Archives of Dermatology suggest that other drugs like corticosteroids and natural products such as amino acids, antioxidants and essential oils may also be effective in treating women's hair loss.
Nonprescription Drugs
Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is the most common type of hair loss, with thinning hair at the front or crown area of the scalp. Minoxidil 2-percent (brand name Rogaine) is an FDA-approved drug for treatment of female pattern hair loss. Minoxidil 2-percent solution is available over the counter without prescription for men and women. A 2005 double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in "Archives of Dermatology" found that 60 percent of women with female pattern hair loss treated with 2-percent minoxidil had new hair growth, compared to women in the placebo group. "Topical minoxidil was significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of female androgenetic alopecia," the study authors write. Be aware that minoxidil may include side effects like increased facial hair growth.
Prescription Drugs
Finasteride (brand name Propecia), a prescription drug which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dehydrotestosterone (a potent form of testosterone), has been shown to be useful in treating hair loss in men. Finasteride is not recommended as a treatment for women's hair loss and may cause serious side effects, according to the "Archives of Dermatology". However, a study published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" found that finasteride may be helpful in women with female pattern hair loss associated with hyperandrogenism (a hormone disorder). Studies suggest that alopecia areata can be treated with corticosteroid prescription drugs either injected under bald skin or taken by mouth, along with topical minoxidil, according to the "Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology". Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease affecting the hair follicles, causing patchy baldness on the scalp.
Natural Products
Amino acids lysine and arginine may help treat hair loss in women. (see References 5,6) A study published in "Clinical and Experimental Dermatology" reports that iron-deficient women with hair thinning had improvement in hair loss when treated with lysine and iron supplements. An animal study published in the "Journal of the National Medical Association" found that 33 percent of rodents with hair loss experienced hair regrowth when treated with green tea polyphenol antioxidants in their drinking water. Another animal study published in "Physiotherapy Research" revealed that grape seed antioxidant flavonoids stimulated hair follicle cells isolated from mice by 230 percent, compared to controls. A clinical study published in "Archives of Dermatology" showed that scalp massage with thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood essential oils improved alopecia areata.
References
- Shrivastava SB. Diffuse hair loss in an adult female: Approach to diagnosis and management. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2009;75:20-8
- De Villez R, Jacobs JP, Szpunar CA, Warner ML. Androgenetic alopecia in the female: treatment wiith 2% minoxidil solution. Arch Dermatol 1994;130:303-7.
- Shum KW, Cullen DR, Messanger AG. Hair loss in women with hyperandrogenism: four eases responding to finastride. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:733-9
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