Hair Thinning in Women
When we think of hair thinning, we generally think it is a problem restricted to men, but 2/3 of women will experience hair thinning and hair loss at some point during their lives. With men, hair loss or thinning is usually caused by Dehydrotestosterone (DHT), the androgen that causes hair loss. With women, hair thinning may have other causes. Women do suffer from pattern hair loss, as do men, though the pattern is more diffuse and often worse in the crown. If you are a women with thinning hair, it is vital to get a medical opinion as the cause of your hair loss. It could be pattern hair loss, often referred to as androgenic alopecia, but your hair thinning may also be caused by chemical hair treatments and hair tight, pulling hair styles, hormonal imbalances, illness, or medications. A thorough medical evaluation is vital to understanding the best course of action to take to optimize your chances of getting hair thinning under control.
Hair Thinning / Hair Loss Causes in Women
Hair loss in women is often a little more complicated than with men because hair thinning in women can have many causes.
Ludwig Scale of Female Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenic Alopecia (AGA or Female Pattern Hair Loss)
Pattern hair loss (also known as androgenic alopecia), is thought to be less common in women than in men, but some doctors believe it may be as common but because of differences in female hair loss patterns it is sometimes undetected when it begins in women. Women with androgenic alopecia lose their hair for the same reasons that men with androgenic alopecia do, dehydrotestosterone (DHT) miniaturizes and eventually kills their hair follicles. Androgenic Alopecia is a genetic condition, inherited from either your mother or your father’s side of the family, or both. Women with androgenic alopecia will notice hair thinning sometime between the ages of 12 and 40. The extent of hair loss in women with AGA is usually less than that of men. The hair thinning in women is usually diffuse, not a complete balding, with the scalp showing through the diffuse hair. This hair thinning may affect the entire scalp though often is restricted to the midline of the crown, with a widening pattern of hair thinning in the worst cases. Female pattern hair loss is not patchy hair loss as it is with other conditions. Women may experience a range of thinning from little to excessive as illustrated by the Ludwig Scale of Female Pattern Hair Loss.
Chemical Hair Treatments/Tight Hair Styles
Some hair treatments such as bleach, dye, hair straightening agents, are harsh and can cause hair to become dry and fall out. Tying hair into weaves or braides (cornrows for example) can cause traction alopecia, a condition caused by tension or pulling of the hair. In the worst cases, traction alopecia can permanently damage the hair follicle until it will know longer grow hair.
Hormone Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances are often a cause of hair thinning in women: pregnancy, birth control pills, low thyroid, increased testosterone during menopause, may all lead to hair thinning and hair loss in women.
Illnesses and Hair Loss in Women
Certain illnesses may cause hair thinning or hair loss in women, including: diabetes, lupus, scleroderma, and polycystic ovarian disease, may all cause temporary hair thinning.
Medications and Hair Thinning
Hair thinning may also be caused by a number of medications, cancer chemotherapy, high blood pressure medications, gout medications, too much vitamin A. See an extensive list of drugs that can cause hair thinning in women.
Hair Loss Treatments
There are several medications used to treat hair loss in women, depending upon the cause:
Minoxidil is a topical solution effective in treating hair loss in both men and women, though more effective in women. The makers of Minoxidil recommend a 2% solution of Minoxidil. Minoxidil is usually used by women with androgenic alopecia.
Estrogen/Progesterone are used in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, but also are used to treat hair loss in women where the cause is thought to be a lack of estrogen.
Oral Contraceptives lower the production of ovarian androgens and so are sometimes used to treat hair loss in women where the cause is thought to be androgenic.
Herbs/Vitamins of many varieties are sold as hair loss cures but to date, no clinical studies have been conducted that support the claims of people selling these “natural remedies”.
Hair Transplantation is the only permanent solution to hair loss. More and more women are having hair transplants now than ever before. Hair transplantation has come a long way since the “plug” grafts of yesteryear. Hair transplant techniques are so advanced now that the results can mimic nature and are undectable when the surgery is performed by a reputable clinic. If you are considering a hair transplant, first do some research. Visit baldtruthtalk.com, hairtransplantnetwork.com, and hairtransplantinsider.com to learn more about hair transplant surgery.