Female Hair Loss: Types and Treatments
Most women shed 50 to 100 strands a day but if you are losing a lot more than that, it could be a hair loss condition that might aggravate further in the future.
Hair loss is completely different from hair shedding. Since a lot of women aren’t aware of the difference, they fail to take the right recovery measures on time.
In this blog, we will share everything about female hair loss. From different types to recommended treatments, we will discuss all the crucial aspects of female hair loss.
Let’s first learn how common hair loss among women is!
Female hair loss: Common or rare?
Many people assume that hair loss is something that only affects men. However, dermatologists state that around 50% of women experience noticeable hair loss at some point in their lives. The most common cause of hair loss is female pattern hair loss.
According to reports, around 30 million women were affected by FPHL in the United States over the past few years. Think how big the number will become if we take into account the female hair loss cases all around the world!
Types of female hair loss
Hair loss in females can be of the following types:
*Androgenetic alopecia: Also known as female pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss among women. It’s a hair loss condition in which females have diffused thinning all over the scalp. Androgenetic alopecia is caused by the sudden action of androgen, a type of male hormone that is present in a small amount in women.
This hair loss condition can be triggered due to several reasons including ovarian cysts, pregnancy, menopause, and also due to high androgen index birth control pills.
*Telogen effluvium: We bet most of you have heard of this term. Telogen effluvium is a temporary female hair loss condition in which strands go into the resting phase because of a sudden disruption inside the female body. The disruption can be childbirth, malnutrition, a severe infection, major surgery, or extreme stress.
The resting hair strands remain firmly attached to the hair follicles at first. The new hair growing up through the scalp pushes out the resting hair, making hair fall more noticeable after 2-3 months.
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*Alopecia areata: Another common form of female hair loss, alopecia areata (also know as Alopezie) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s own immune system attacks the roots of hair follicles. Scientists say that an inflammatory reaction is a reason behind this hair loss condition.
One common symptom of alopecia areata is patchy shedding of hair, which develops very abruptly. Although 68% of females recover their hair within two years, women should definitely consider this hair loss condition a matter of concern as it could turn out to be permanent.
*Anagen effluvium: Anagen effluvium refers to the female hair shedding state that arises during anagen (the growth phase of the hair cycle). This hair loss condition is in contrast to the aforementioned temporary hair loss stage called telogen effluvium.
Anagen effluvium occurs due to a serious injury to the hair follicles by an endogenous or exogenous cause. It often results in an unexpected sudden diffuse shedding of structurally damaged hair.
Treatments for female hair loss
There are various treatment options for female hair loss. Here are some of the most effective ones:
#1 Minoxidil
Minoxidil is one of the best treatments to overcome early female hair loss. Also called Rogaine, it stimulates hair growth and helps increase the hair growth cycle. Minoxidil causes hair to thicken and lessen the appearance of patchiness and wide hair parting.
Rogaine comes in two different concentrations – 2% and 5%. Women are advised to use 2% of the solution as an application twice daily for better results. But we suggest you take a prescription from a dermatologist first since Minoxidil has its share of side effects too.
#2 Hair toppers
Unlike Minoxidil, women’s hair toppers have zero side effects. They come in different sizes and are designed to cover either a part of your head or the entire scalp. Hair toppers can be custom designed as per your head shape, hair texture, and style preferences.
Modern-day hair wigs (another name for topper) comprise natural human hair woven into a skin-friendly base that guarantees breathability, comfort, and realism to females. We recommend buying hair toppers from a reputed manufacturer like Lordhair.
#3 Corticosteroid
Corticosteroid is another famous treatment used to overcome female hair loss. Dermatologists recommend this medication to treat serious hair loss conditions such as alopecia areata. Corticosteroid is injected directly into the hairless patch in order to encourage new hair growth.
That said, this hair recovery option won’t show any effect on the other parts of your body where you are losing hair. Corticosteroids can also be used in a topical form. These are available as creams, lotions, and other preparations.
Above are commonly known female hair loss types and possible treatments. Most times, hair loss in women is temporary. Therefore, there is no need to panic. However, if you are facing aggressive hair loss, we recommend consulting a dermatologist to determine the causes behind your hair loss condition.
