While men and women may both experience the devastation of hair loss, the causes, and therefore the treatments vary to a certain extent.
Common causes of hair loss in women are due to some sort of hormone imbalance. Androgenetic alopecia was originally thought to be the result of excess male hormone, testosterone, in women. More recently, hair loss in women has been attributed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. Excess DHT or low levels of female hormones and other hormonal imbalances are thought to give DHT an edge, which results in DHT killing healthy follicles and causing hair loss.
Other hormonal factors that can also contribute to hair loss include an imbalance in thyroid hormones, pregnancy, diseases and medications that have an effect on the growth and shedding cycle of hair. Both hormones and hair growth cycles are cyclical, which means that hair loss may be temporary or long term.
Often treatment depends on the cause. A doctor may not want to prescribe an oral hormone treatment because the treatment could affect other hormones and create other problems. Instead, they will likely prescribe a topical treatment.
Beginning treatment as soon as possible after noticeable hair loss can help prevent further hair loss, as the hair shaft can be permanently damaged after a long period of time. It is also important to take vitamins and minerals also helps ensure anti-androgen medications work properly.
Widely available in generic versions and under the brand name Rogaine, minoxidil, was first used in tablet form as a medicine to treat high blood pressure. It was then noticed that minoxidil patients developed excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) as a side effect. When applied topically, minoxidil is absorbed through the skin in levels too small to cause side effects, but large enough to be effective in the fight against hair loss. Minoxidil is currently only recommended for women in 2% concentration of minoxidil, not 5% because the FDA has yet to approve the larger concentration for use by women.
Other prescription treatments for women with andorgenetic alopecia include a class of drugs known as androgen receptor inhibitors. These drugs can be used to treat hair loss, but their primary use is often for other medical conditions. Because of this, they often have many side effects. Some of these drugs include Spironolactone, brand name Aldactone, and Cimetidine, brand name Tagamet. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking these drugs.
Hormone treatments may also be used to treat hair loss in women, including estrogen and progesterone pills as well as oral contraceptives.
The drug finasteride, sold under the brand names Propecia and Proscar have also been found to be effective in hair loss in both men and women, although it also has side effects and may not be appropriate in all cases.
Common causes of hair loss in women are due to some sort of hormone imbalance. Androgenetic alopecia was originally thought to be the result of excess male hormone, testosterone, in women. More recently, hair loss in women has been attributed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. Excess DHT or low levels of female hormones and other hormonal imbalances are thought to give DHT an edge, which results in DHT killing healthy follicles and causing hair loss.
Other hormonal factors that can also contribute to hair loss include an imbalance in thyroid hormones, pregnancy, diseases and medications that have an effect on the growth and shedding cycle of hair. Both hormones and hair growth cycles are cyclical, which means that hair loss may be temporary or long term.
Often treatment depends on the cause. A doctor may not want to prescribe an oral hormone treatment because the treatment could affect other hormones and create other problems. Instead, they will likely prescribe a topical treatment.
Beginning treatment as soon as possible after noticeable hair loss can help prevent further hair loss, as the hair shaft can be permanently damaged after a long period of time. It is also important to take vitamins and minerals also helps ensure anti-androgen medications work properly.
Widely available in generic versions and under the brand name Rogaine, minoxidil, was first used in tablet form as a medicine to treat high blood pressure. It was then noticed that minoxidil patients developed excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) as a side effect. When applied topically, minoxidil is absorbed through the skin in levels too small to cause side effects, but large enough to be effective in the fight against hair loss. Minoxidil is currently only recommended for women in 2% concentration of minoxidil, not 5% because the FDA has yet to approve the larger concentration for use by women.
Other prescription treatments for women with andorgenetic alopecia include a class of drugs known as androgen receptor inhibitors. These drugs can be used to treat hair loss, but their primary use is often for other medical conditions. Because of this, they often have many side effects. Some of these drugs include Spironolactone, brand name Aldactone, and Cimetidine, brand name Tagamet. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking these drugs.
Hormone treatments may also be used to treat hair loss in women, including estrogen and progesterone pills as well as oral contraceptives.
The drug finasteride, sold under the brand names Propecia and Proscar have also been found to be effective in hair loss in both men and women, although it also has side effects and may not be appropriate in all cases.
