Talking to a Hair Doctor About Female Pattern Hair Loss
Female-pattern hair loss, also referred to as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in women and is believed to be inherited from either or both parents. This type of hair loss is also thought to be associated with conditions that cause a group of hormones known as androgens to become elevated – such as in polycystic ovarian syndrome – which can also cause symptoms such as increased facial hair, acne, irregular periods, and infertility.
Pattern hair loss causes some of the hair follicles to produce progressively finer, shorter, and lighter hairs until eventually the follicles shrink completely and stop producing hair altogether. Increased levels of androgens can lead to a shorter hair growth cycle and the growth of thinner, shorter strands of hair; the growth of new hair from hair follicles may also be delayed.
In female-pattern hair loss, women tend to lose hair all over the head, so the hair just looks less dense than before. Women also tend to lose hair at the natural “part” of their hair.
Although hair loss can be a distressing condition, there are now highly effective hair restoration treatments available from an experienced hair doctor. Do not settle for over-the-counter treatments, because those may not be designed to treat your particular type of hair loss.
Treatment for Hair Loss in Women
Your hair restoration doctor can evaluate your hair loss in order to correctly diagnose your condition and thereby determine a treatment that will work for you. There are many different hair restoration treatments available that can help to restore and preserve your hair, and your hair doctor will help you decide which treatment is best suited to your individual requirements.
Treatment options include:
Medication
Medicines, such as minoxidil (used in Rogaine®), are specially designed hair loss medications to slow or even stop hair loss and promote new hair growth. Minoxidil has been found to stimulate new hair growth.
Finasteride (used in Propecia®) should never be taken or handled by a woman who may be pregnant or may become pregnant because this medicine can cause birth defects. Talk to your hair doctor if you are a postmenopausal woman and are interested in considering this medication because it can indeed help to maintain existing hair.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
A home-unit low-level laser therapy (LLLT) device can be an easy-to-use, cost-effective, long-term solution for hair loss. LLLT is recommended only for patients dealing with hair thinning or miniaturizing, not to treat bald spots. It can be used as a standalone treatment for combatting hair loss or it can be used in conjunction with other therapies, so talk to your hair doctor about whether this may be a good solution for you.
Nonsurgical Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Injection-based PRP therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that can be used as an early intervention to slow down the progression of hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth. PRP is a concentration of your own blood platelets, which are specialized proteins that are key to the healing and growing process.
Your hair doctor will take a small sample of your own blood and gather the platelets for your own personalized treatment. The concentrated solution will stimulate stem cell activity in dormant hair follicles.
Treatments for Female Hair Loss in Kansas City, MO
If you are experiencing female-pattern hair loss, talk to Dr. Scott Darling here at Darling Hair Restoration to find out which hair restoration treatments might work best for you. We offer a variety of effective treatment options for female-pattern hair loss.
To arrange a consultation with Dr. Darling, call us today at (816) 792-3400 or fill out our appointment request form online. We look forward to helping you love how your hair looks once again!
