Hair Loss in Women: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Table Of Content

• Why might someone suddenly lose so much hair?
• Androgenetic alopecia
• Learn more about the many benefits and features of joining Harvard Health Online »
• document.getElementsByTagName('head') .appendChild(rs);
• Frequently asked questions about hair loss treatments
• Hair Loss In Transgender and Nonbinary People

Hair loss can happen a couple of weeks to 6 months after any stressful experience. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications generally consist of topical creams, gels, solutions, or foams that you apply directly to the scalp. The most common products contain an ingredient called minoxidil. At the end of the day, remember you do have safe and effective options for treating hair loss, and treatment can make a big difference.

The surprise supplement that transformed my thinning hair - The Telegraph

The surprise supplement that transformed my thinning hair.

Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Why might someone suddenly lose so much hair?

Hair follicles are made up mostly of a protein called keratin. In one 2017 study of 100 people with hair loss, the authors noted several nutritional deficiencies in participants, including deficiencies of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of protein. Infections, distressing events, high fever, and mental health issues can contribute to stress-related hair loss in men and women. Rapid weight loss due to bariatric surgery or disease can also cause this often reversible condition. Extreme diets that are too low in protein or certain vitamins, such as iron, can sometimes cause excessive hair shedding. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out suddenly.

Androgenetic alopecia

Typically setting on when women are between 45 and 55, these fluctuations can trigger female pattern hair loss. Autoimmune diseases essentially trick your immune system into attacking healthy body tissue by mistake. These FDA-cleared devices use laser energy to directly revitalize and stimulate hair follicles, working to promote the growth of new healthy hair with low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The laser devices help increase blood circulation and remove waste in the follicle to support natural hair growth and help thicken existing hair.

Learn more about the many benefits and features of joining Harvard Health Online »

If you can, avoid heat styling tools such as curling or straightening irons, which may also damage or break the hair shaft. In women, this can be brought on by the physical shock of giving birth, emotional distress, mental illness, surgery, or certain diseases. A 2018 review suggests that a vitamin D deficiency may link to hair loss.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia

Hair transplant surgery involves moving small plugs of skin, each with a few hairs, to bald parts of your scalp. They’ll likely use a combination of your health history — including any recent illnesses, surgeries, life stressors, and family history — and a physical exam to help narrow down the causes. You can only receive PRP therapy from a healthcare professional. This treatment is relatively new, so research supporting its effectiveness remains limited. That said, a small 2014 study suggests it’s both simple and effective, and many people feel satisfied with the results. To notice the full results, you may need to continue with one or a combination of treatments for several months.

document.getElementsByTagName('head') .appendChild(rs);

In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. Hair transplant, or restoration surgery, can make the most of the hair you have left. If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for a few months.

Frequently asked questions about hair loss treatments

Because some hair loss can be progressive, you may need multiple procedures over time. Typically, the most common types of hair loss are treated with topical or oral medications, which will likely be the first course of treatment. In addition to losing hair on the scalp, some people with alopecia areata lose hair from their eyebrows, eyelashes, or other parts of the body.

A review study published in 2022 found that it significantly increases hair diameter and hair count in patients with several types of alopecia. It typically isn’t covered by insurance, and it can be expensive, Mirmirani says. Hair loss, or alopecia, affects more than 80 percent of men and 50 percent of women, and the risk increases with age. Hair transplants involve taking hair from one area of your scalp and transplanting it into an area with hair thinning or balding.

Nutritional deficiencies

And many people find ways to thrive and feel great, no matter how much — or how little — hair they have. Depending on what’s causing your hair loss, it may be temporary or permanent. For conditions like alopecia areata that may affect children as well as adults, groups can provide emotional support and even help you buy wigs or find other ways to cope. Some conditions causing temporary hair loss will resolve themselves without treatment, or with a few lifestyle changes. If getting the right nutrients, minimizing stress, and avoiding tight hairstyles don’t seem to help, a doctor or dermatologist can offer more information on prescription treatments.

Regular pulling on your hair via tight ponytails, braids, extensions, or weaves can cause traction alopecia—shedding caused by persistent tension, per the AAD. Spironolactone is another blood pressure drug that’s been shown to have anti-androgen effects (which is why it’s commonly prescribed as an off-label treatment for hormonal acne). It prevents androgen receptors from activating, which reduces the influence these hormones can have on your hair follicles.

Telogen effluvium is a type of sudden hair loss that results from emotional or physical shock, like a traumatic event, period of extreme stress, or a serious illness. This usually happens because of radiation treatment or chemotherapy. It’s also the most common cause of hair loss, affecting up to 50% of people. It’s typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). With about 100,000 hairs on your head, that small loss isn’t noticeable. New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesn’t always happen.