Hair loss in women at any age is discouraging, frustrating and sometimes even devastating.Female pattern hair loss or FPHL is the most common type of hairloss in women.Many factors are to blame for hair loss, including medical conditions, genetics, some medications, and hormonal changes.In some cases, methods to treat this condition in women are effective, but in others, medical and surgical interventions are required to restore hair growth.
Step 1: To rule out a medical condition, see your doctor.
There are a number of medical conditions that can interfere with hair growth and development.There are some medical conditions that include iron deficiency.There are conditions for the Thyroid.There are deficiencies in zinc, vitamins D and B.Alterations of androgen, testosterone, and estrogen-derived hormones are alterations of the Hormonal level.There is an autoimmune disease.There is a lot of psychological stress.There was physical trauma.There are skin disorders.The person has diabetes.There is a disease called lupus.There is a disorder called trichotillomania.Extreme weight loss or change in diet can cause stress.It was accompanied by a high temperature.
Step 2: The medical condition needs to be dealt with.
Hair loss can be caused by medical conditions.With the help of your doctor, and possibly healthcare professionals that practice in specialty areas, treating the underlying medical condition may resolve your hair loss problem.Your doctor will need as much information as possible about your hair loss problem, so be prepared to discuss this issue in depth.When it began, any significant life events that occurred just prior to the problem, steps you have taken to resolve it, and how much distress the hair loss is causing you should all be described.If an underlying medical condition is discovered, specialists that may be part of your treatment may include psychiatrists.
Step 3: Understand how you grow your hair.
One of the three phases of hair growth can be interfered with by a number of medical conditions.The anagen phase is when your hair is growing.At any given time, 85% of your hair is growing.The catagen phase lasts about two weeks and allows the follicle to regenerate.During the catagen phase, hair growth is stopped.The telogen phase lasts for two to four months and is considered the resting phase of hair growth.The hair falls out at the end of this phase.The telogen phase causes most people to lose 100 hairs a day.There are a lot of medical conditions that encourage hair to enter the telogen phase.It could cause as many as 300 hairs to be lost each day.Telogen effluvium is a medical term for excessive hair loss.
Step 4: telogen effluvium is a temporary thing.
Many medical conditions can cause hair to move into the telogen phase.Since your hair is in the telogen phase for several months, it may not occur immediately after the event that triggered it.Severe emotional stressors would be included.
Step 5: Your doctor should review your medications.
There are many medications that can cause hair loss.Don't change your medication for any reason.Discuss your concerns with your doctor.If you feel that a medication is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to adjust the dose or prescribe a different medication.Some medications are known to cause hair loss.There are drugs that can cause hair loss.The examples of medications in this class are propranolol, atenolol, and metoprolol.Hair loss can be caused by Amphetamine derivatives.Adderall®, dextroamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine are examples of amphetamine medications.Radiation therapy and Chemotherapy can cause hair loss.
Step 6: Consider the role genetics has.
If you have family members that have hair loss, you may be at risk.Losing hair at any earlier than normal age is one of the most common patterns of hair loss.There is an incidence of hair loss in women that is passed on.
Step 7: Hair loss can be caused by changes in hormones.
Some situations that cause fluctuations in hormones result in temporary hair loss, and others a gradual but permanent change in hair growth.A good example of temporary hair loss is when you are pregnant.There is a noticeable loss of hair with the start of menopause.Changes in hormones can lead to a gradual loss of hair, as part of the normal aging process.Some women with hair loss at an earlier than normal age, or excessive loss, have been tested for alterations in levels of male hormones.The role those hormones may play in causing hair loss in women is not clear.Your doctor can help determine the hormones in your situation by performing blood work.Some cases of severe hormonal imbalances can be treated.
Step 8: Do you know your diet?
Hair loss can be caused by sudden changes in diet and weight.telogen effluvium is the category in which hair loss related to nutrition or diet falls.If you want to work with a nutritionist, talk to your doctor.Evidence of deficiency can be provided by physical exams and lab work by your doctor.If you work with a nutritionist, you can incorporate foods into your diet that will correct any vitamins or minerals that are found to be deficient, as well as help to resolve the problem of hair loss.
Step 9: There are changes that occur with age.
follicles are affected by the normal aging process.The area of your head that supports hair roots is smaller, but the number of follicles are the same.The reduction in the size of hair follicles allows for hair to grow and develop, but only the hairs are as fine as before, which leads to hair loss.Studies show that the normal aging process includes hair loss.The greatest impact occurs in women 70 years of age or older.
Step 10: Try to use products with minoxidil.
Some brand names contained minoxidil.Monixodil is available without a prescription in 2% and 5% strengths.The products are made with foam.Product directions recommend not applying the solution or foam more than twice daily.minoxidil helps hair grow in about 20% to 25% of women, but it doesn't stop hair loss in most women that use the product.It is necessary to keep using the product for a long time in order to see the positive results.The effects of the product wear off once they are no longer used.The most common side effects of minoxidil are hair growth on the face or hands.A rapid heart rate can be caused by systemic absorption.
Step 11: You can talk to your doctor about it.
The only approved medication for hair loss in men is finasteride.The use of finasteride has been shown to improve hair growth and slow the process of hair loss in men, however research studies are ongoing for the use in women.The studies are showing promising results.Depending on your individual presentation, other medications you are using, and your age, your doctor may consider using a similar agent.The use of finasteride in women is not approved by the FDA, so your doctor would prescribe it to you in a way that is called off-label.There is a documented risk of birth defects for women of child-bearing age.Sex drive and sexual function are the most common side effects of finasteride use in men.When getting up from a seated or resting position, you can experience dizziness or faintness.
Step 12: Ask your doctor if there are other drugs you could be taking.
Secondary effects of drugs can lead to hair growth.In some cases, these medications can be used to treat hair loss in women.The FDA does not approve these drugs for hair loss treatment.spironolactone, cimetidine, and other drugs that fall in the same class as finasteride may be helpful.These agents are FDA approved to treat other side effects of hair loss.Discuss the use of these medications with your doctor.Your doctor will look at your medical conditions in order to treat your hair loss.
Step 13: There is a hair transplant surgeon.
The process of hair transplant involves removing healthy hair follicles from areas on your head where your hair is thick, or where hair loss is most evident.This type of procedure involves removing hair from a lot of places.The results of hair transplant surgery are very good and permanent.
Step 14: Ask your doctor about low-level light therapy
In the 1960s, low-level light therapy was found to be helpful in promoting wound healing.There are several products that are approved by the FDA.The documented results of this form of treatment do not meet scientific measures of efficacy, but many individual patients did see positive results.Studies have shown that a change at the cellular level can improve hair growth in many people.There needs to be more work done to develop products that work better.
Step 15: Take the right vitamins and minerals.
If you want to establish a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, you need to work with a nutritionist.You can take vitamins or supplements that will give you more than what you eat.Omega 3 and 6 are found in some products.Omega 3 and Omega 6 products are not approved for use in the treatment of hair loss.The study that showed good results when women took products with omega 3 and 6 showed them for six months.A study done in women resulted in positive results when products with B vitamins and L-cysteine were taken for four months.If you have an underlying nutritional disorder, taking vitamins for hair loss will have a positive effect.
Step 16: Ask your doctor about melatonin.
A study done in a small group of women showed positive results when melatonin was used to treat hair loss.The anagen phase of hair growth was shown to have an increase in the women that participated in this study.The women in the study used a solution of melatonin on their heads for six months.This is the first time melatonin has been used in this way.There may be risks involved in using melatonin in this way.
Step 17: It's a good idea to use lavender.
lavender was used in one small study to show positive results.There is very little evidence to support the use of herbal remedies in treating hair loss, however one preliminary study showed good results when using lavender combined with other herbal oils.It's not a good idea to take lavender orally.lavender may cause irritation to the skin.