Female pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, affects millions of women. It is characterized by gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp. Not usually as noticeable as male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss still impacts a woman’s self-esteem and confidence. This blog is a guide to how women can combat the problem of thinning hair with hair loss treatments which really work.
Causes of Female Pattern Hair Loss
There are many possible causes of thinning hair in women. They include heredity, hormonal changes, stress, certain medical conditions and even certain hairstyles or cosmetic treatments.
Hair loss doctors refer to thinness caused by tight weaves, ponytails and braids as traction alopecia. Repeated tension on the hair leads to thin spots on the scalp. So, traction alopecia is a frequent problem leading to female pattern hair loss.
The health issues which affect women’s hair health, fullness, texture and more include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Life stress
- Menopause and pregnancy
- Age (beginning in the 40s and 50s)
- Low levels of Vitamin D
- Certain prescription drugs
- Thyroid disease
Also, female pattern hair loss differs from woman to woman. So, the best treatments for hair loss in women must be custom-made. An experienced hair loss doctor assesses the patient’s hair loss pattern, evaluates her medical history and helps determine realistic treatment goals.
Women who have noticeable hair loss and wish to restore the quality and volume of their hair should consult an experienced hair restoration physician. The doctor will work out a step-by-step plan to address it. In fact, the sooner a woman addresses her hair loss issues, the more successful the care plan can be.
Effective Treatments for Thinning Hair in Women
Here are just some of the most common–and helpful–treatments our hair loss physician offers women at Northwest Hair Restoration.
Medications for Female Pattern Hair Loss
Many women may benefit from topical medications, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), applied directly to the scalp. Medicated shampoos can reduce thinning. A hypertension medication called spironolactone can also help with hair loss.
Non-surgical Treatments for FPHL
Besides medication, hair loss doctors offer non-surgical treatments for hair loss in women. For example, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting a patient’s own blood platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
This hair loss treatment for women has very promising results in improving hair density and thickness. It may be combined with ACell, an injectable medication which provides a scaffold for renewed tissue (hair) growth.
Another non-surgical treatment option for hair loss in women is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Low-level laser therapy uses red light to stimulate the hair follicles and promote new hair growth. This easy treatment can be done at home with the innovative LaserCap or in the hair restoration clinic.
Surgical Hair Restoration
For more severe cases of female pattern baldness, surgical options may be recommended. With follicular unit transplantation (FUT), the doctor takes small strips of healthy hair follicles from the back of the head. He transplants them on the thinning areas. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) involves harvesting individual follicles from the scalp and transplanting them in the desired area.
Both FUT and FUE procedures have high success rates. In the hands of an experienced hair loss doctor, these surgeries deliver natural-looking results.
However, they do require some limited downtime for recovery. The transplanted hair grows in gradually over the course of several weeks to months.
Best Treatments for Hair Loss in Women at Northwest Hair Restoration
At Northwest Hair Restoration, our experienced team offers a number of hair loss treatment options for women of all ages and walks of life. Dr. Robert Niedbalski is a board-certified family medicine physician and a member of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. He is a renowned expert in regenerative hair loss solutions, such as PRP therapy.
To learn more about female pattern hair loss and how to get back the full head of hair you deserve, contact us for an in-person consultation. Call our office team at (253) 572-2949 or request your appointment here.
Northwest Hair Restoration has three convenient locations: Spokane, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. Hair surgery is only performed at the Tacoma location. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
