Hair Loss in Women

Posted Wednesday, September 5, 2007 to PROCEDURES > Hair

Posted by The Original Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine

The fact 60% of men suffer some degree of baldness in their lifetime has obscured the fact a significant number of women also suffer hair loss, explains Dr. Russell Knudsen former President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.

Women don't go bald like men, but they certainly do, in some cases, experience significant thinning that is quite distressing. It is estimated approximately 15% of women experience some degree of hair loss in their lifetime.

Hair loss in women can be conveniently classified into 3 categories: scarring, non-patterned (diffuse) and patterned.

Scarring hair-loss (or alopecia, its medical term) is relatively uncommon and occurs either due to skin disease (such as lupus) or due to mechanical trauma (eg burns). It is a permanent hair loss, with medical treatment limited to surgery either in the form of excision of the scar (cutting it out) or transplantation of the hair into the scar. Alternatively, camouflage in the form of a wig can hide the problem.

Non-patterned, or diffuse, alopecia can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hair loss can occur after an illness (particularly if a fever occurred), change of climate or, in some cases, after the birth of a child. The commonest medical problems associated with diffuse hair loss are irondeficiency anemia and thyroid gland disorders. If treated early the hair loss may be temporary. But, if left untreated for some time, the hair loss may be permanent despite medical treatment of the problem.

Patterned hair loss falls into 2 categories: alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia.

Alopecia areata is a mysterious medical condition which we believe relates to the immune system and causes complete hair loss either in patches or, in some severe cases, can involve all the hair on the head or even all of the hair on the entire body. This condition can occur either in childhood or as an adult, tends to recur after remissions, and in its severe cases, responds poorly to treatment. Often sufferers resort to wearing wigs.

Androgenetic alopecia is the female version of male pattern baldness. It is not as severe because the female hormones protect the scalp hair from the damaging effects of the small amount of male hormone (testosterone) that women have in their body.

Like male pattern baldness, it is inherited (from either side of the family) and only occurs sometime after puberty. It often becomes more obvious after women go through the menopause, because female hormones decline at this time. Occasionally the frontal hairline is involved. But more typically the hairline is preserved and thinning begins a few centimeters behind and involves most of the upper scalp. Thinning is usually mild but in some cases can be severe. Medical treatment involves the use of hair stimulants such as Regaine 2% solution (a 5% solution is also available) or hormone blocking agents.

The newest drug for baldness is Propecia, but its effects have not yet been studied on pre-menopausal women.

In more severe cases hair transplantation may be effective in helping to restore some coverage. Women frequently resort to creative hair styling (and perms) to camouflage the thinning and, in severe cases, may use wigs.

Hair loss in women is frequently psychologically devastating because it is relatively uncommon (compared to men) and because hair styling is an important social custom in our society. Medical practitioners today have better treatment options available than ever before and should be consulted by any person worried by hair loss.

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