What is Female Pattern Baldness?
Female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is the same type of hair loss that is most commonly experienced by men. For men, the hair loss occurs along the hairline, eventually progressing to baldness. For women, female pattern baldness begins with a gradual thinning of the hair at the part line, followed by an increase in diffuse hair loss. This results in the appearance of thinner hair overall.
About one-third of women experience hair loss at some point in their lives. As many as two-thirds of postmenopausal women experience hair thinning or even bald spots. This can impact a woman’s emotional well-being and confidence. There can be a lot of societal pressure for women to have long full hair, and so female pattern hair baldness can greatly impact a woman’s social and professional life.
What Causes Female Pattern Baldness?
There are many potential causes of female pattern baldness in women, including medical conditions, medication side effects, and physical and emotional stress. Genetics play a role in female pattern baldness. However, it may also develop due to an underlying condition that affects the production of the hormone androgen. Androgen is a hormone that plays a large role in pattern baldness. Androgen contributes to the formation of DHT within the hair follicle which causes the growth cycle to slow, and the follicle to become thinner and more brittle. Tumors in the pituitary gland, or ovaries that secrete androgen could also be responsible for hair loss.
Other causes for female pattern baldness include autoimmune disorders. Alopecia areata is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles leading to hair loss. The majority of the time, hair falls out in small patches, approximately the size of a quarter. While some cases are more extreme, for most people there are just a few small bald patches. People who experience alopecia areata who only have a few patches of lost hair, often experience spontaneous, full recoveries. There is currently no known cure for alopecia areata.
Serious illnesses that result in infection, high fever, or surgery can trigger increased hair loss as well. Traction alopecia is a condition that occurs as a result of tight hairstyles and over-styling. In both instances, these conditions will often resolve over time. Hair will usually regrow after a massive shedding event such as what one might experience after surgery. With the exception of extreme cases, traction alopecia can be corrected by changing one’s hair care routine. Usually, you just need to employ gentler practices and protective styling.
How Can I Stop Female Pattern Baldness?
Medications
Medications are one of the most common treatments for hair loss in women. Minoxidil, commercially known as Rogaine, is a drug that was initially developed to treat high blood pressure, but increased hair growth turned out to be an unexpected side effect. A topical solution that could be applied directly to the scalp was developed. There are both 2% and 5% solutions that can be purchased over-the-counter.
While minoxidil can encourage some new hair growth in women, it will not be able to restore your lost hair to its former density. It takes at least two months to start seeing results, and sometimes much longer, up to a year. You will need to use minoxidil continuously to preserve any new hair growth. If you discontinue use, you will start to lose your hair again. Minoxidil is generally considered to be a safe treatment option, however, it has been known to cause scalp irritation in some users. Sometimes the color and texture of the new hair will differ from the surrounding hair. Minoxidil is not safe to use if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Anti-androgens are another type of medication used to treat female pattern baldness. The anti-androgen drug spironolactone (Aldactone) works to block the overproduction of testosterone and hormones that cause accelerated hair loss in women. This drug is particularly helpful for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) because they tend to produce excessive androgens. Spironolactone may be prescribed in combination with contraceptives if a woman is of reproductive age. Possible side effects from spironolactone include weight gain, loss of libido, depression, and fatigue. Not the best option, as the side effects can be harsh. From our personal point of view, it’s best to avoid strong drugs and opt for procedures like FUE and FUT.
Keep Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies such as low iron levels, or vitamin B12 deficiency can also contribute to hair loss. Vegans and vegetarians can be particularly susceptible to these deficiencies because these nutrients are primarily found in animal products. A blood test may be ordered to determine if nutrient deficiencies are the cause. Heavy metal toxicity is another culprit, which can block the absorption of essential nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. A blood test can be conducted to test for heavy metals as well.
FUE & FUT Hair Transplants
Hair transplantation is a more aggressive way to address female pattern baldness. Options include FUE and FUT transplants. FUT or Follicular Unit Transplantation is performed by removing a small strip from the scalp at the back of the head in order to harvest hair follicles. This is a great option for women, as most female patients plan to wear their hair in long hairstyles. Many men aren’t so lucky. That’s because men frequently enjoy shorter hairstyles and hair cuts, and as a result, the FUT scar will show through.
The next option is FUE. A Follicular Unit Extraction is performed by removing individual follicular grafts from the back of the head in a dispersed pattern. Instead of removing a full strip of skin, small holes are punched in the scalp, follicle bunches are extracted, and the grafts are placed in the bald or thinning areas.
The process of transplanting the harvested grafts into the thinning and balding areas of the scalp is the same. Recovery time post-surgery is about two weeks. It can take up to a year to see noticeable growth of the transplanted hair. Not all women are good candidates for hair transplantation. Unlike with male pattern baldness that tends to concentrate at the forehead and crown, female pattern hair loss occurs in a dispersed pattern. However, if the donor follicular grafts are impacted by DHT, they are not going to be well suited for transplantation.
Laser Hair Restoration Devices
Additionally, Best Hair Transplant offers portable laser hair restoration devices produced by Capillus. The CapillusRX 312 is a flex-fitting cap with the highest number of prescription-grade laser diodes with simultaneous coverage of any laser cap device on the market. Capillus laser therapy is a physician-recommended, FDA-cleared treatment. It’s been clinically proven to regrow thinning hair and prevent further progression of hair loss due to female pattern balding.
The CapillusRX 312 uses low-level lasers to stimulate circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, renewing cells from within to support the growth of thicker, healthier hair. This device is completely pain-free and only requires 6 minutes a day for treatment. Additionally, you can wear it hands-free, discreetly under a baseball cap. But it gets better! There are no known side effects from laser therapy. In other words, laser hair restoration is a great way to combat female hair loss.
Studies indicate that low-level light (LLLT) therapy may convert adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP), which releases energy a triggers a metabolic change. LLLT treat meant stimulates your red blood cells. The result is that the increased blood circulation to the scalp boosting hair health, as well as encouraging dormant follicles to grow. You can expect to see results in as little as 60 days!
Try Best Hair Transplant in Redondo Beach
At Best Hair Transplant we offer the best prices in addition to offering the best laser cap product available. We offer the Capillus RX312 for $3,500 plus tax, with free shipping. However, we offer an instant rebate offer of $1000 to those who participate in our before and after photo subsidy offer. That’s the best offer you’ll find on Capillus 312 anywhere! Period!
Finally, we also offer discounts on FUE and FUT procedures for payments made with cash. We understand how painful it can be to live with female pattern baldness. Many of the treatments available offer side effects that are undesirable without delivering meaningful results. We are confident that the CapillusRX 312 can help restore your hair without any distressing side effects.
SUFFERING FROM HAIR LOSS?
Best Hair Transplant is the best place to schedule your hair transplant in Los Angeles. We’ve helped both men and women regrow their lost hair. But don’t take our word for it. We suggest learning as much as possible about hair restoration. Do so prior to making a decision on how to address your hair loss. Not every procedure is right for everyone.
At Best Hair Transplant, we’re proud of our results and happy to provide hair restoration services. Additionally, we’re proud to make hair transplants affordable and help you save money on a variety of hair transplants.
To ensure your ease of mind, you can view our customer recommendations HERE. Furthermore, you can also see our Google reviews and Yelp reviews. We can’t wait to help you start restoring your lost hair.
YOUR HAIR RESTORATION SOLUTION
Best Hair Transplant
1970 S. Prospect Ave., Suite 2
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(213) 403-0455