The most common cause of hair loss in women is a condition that is referred to as female pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. It most commonly occurs after a woman has gone through menopause. Other causes of hair loss in women include anemia, illness, weight changes, stress, thyroid disease, hormonal changes and certain medications. Meet with your doctor to discuss treatment methods for hair loss.
Significance
Some hair loss is normal for women and does not require treatment. On average, as part of the hair growth cycle, you will lose an average of 50 to 100 hairs per day. Treatment may be required if you are losing 150 or more strands daily. To determine if you should seek treatment for your hair loss, note any thinning spots on your head or if you find an excessive amount of hair in the shower drain.
Effects
A common treatment that is available over the counter is minoxidil based topical solutions. For instance, Rogaine for Women can be applied to the scalp twice daily to stimulate hair growth and prevent further hair loss. It works by expanding the size of the hair follicles found on the scalp.
Considerations
Hair transplant surgery can be done to surgically restore hair to balding women. During the procedure, pieces of skin containing several hairs will be surgically grafted to your scalp. You may need several surgeries to cover the entire balding area. Scalp reduction may be done in conjunction with the surgery. During this procedure, the hairless portions of your scalp will be removed prior to implantation of new hair covered scalp.
Prevention/Solution
There are certain measures you can take to prevent hair loss. Avoid styling your hair in restrictive ways that can lead to hair breakage. This includes pony tails, corn rows, braids, and buns. Do not pull or twist the hair excessively either. Inflammation of the hair follicle can occur when you expose your hair to the chemicals used in hot oil treatments and perms.
Warning
Some hair loss treatments for men can not be used for women. For instance, the drug Propecia is available for only male pattern baldness. The drug ceases the conversion of testosterone into DHT, the hormone responsible for shrinking the hair follicles in men.
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