While genetic male pattern baldness can be recognized by a receding hairline or balding crown, genetic hair loss in women is a little different. In many cases, a woman will not lose her hair only in spots, but will thin out evenly over the entire head. Sometimes this thinning can be quite severe and result in a woman having to wear a wig to cover her thinning locks. While hair loss in women almost never results in a completely bald head, it can be extreme enough to quite clearly expose the scalp.
For women facing this type of hair loss, there are several hair loss treatment options that can be explored. They include shampoos, conditioners and topical treatments such as Romaine for women that stimulate hair growth and prevent further hair loss; vitamin supplements; and stimulating treatments such as massage and infrared therapy. The most successful of these hair loss treatments are topical treatments. Although they are quite expensive, they provide the best results.
Hair loss due to chemical processes
No matter how healthy and strong your hair is today, serious hair loss can occur after undergoing a harsh chemical process such as a perm or color. While almost all chemical hair loss is due to operator error, the likelihood of this occurring is multiplied by the chemical services you perform on your hair at home. I have seen more than one case of hair loss in clients who bleached their hair at home, recolored it, and then came to the salon for another bleaching. Unaware of this past, the stylist used too strong a chemical and the process resulted in hair loss.
Since most of these cases do not result in complete hair loss, hair loss treatment options include protein treatments and other conditioning treatments to strengthen the remaining hair; a good haircut that will remove most of the damage; and a gentle hair care routine that minimizes further hair loss due to breakage. You should also refrain from using heat styling tools and other chemical treatments until the hair is fully grown.
Hair loss due to stress
Cases of severe stress can cause literally handfuls of hair to fall out at once. Women who experience stressful conditions may experience female pattern hair loss, represented by thinning all over the head or in areas called alopecia errata. Alopecia errata mean "loss of hair in spots or areas" and can result in bald circular patches on one or more areas of the scalp. Although this type of hair loss is alarming, it is not permanent. After removing the stress, most patients with this type of hair loss will regrow all the hair they lost.
In many cases, hair loss treatment for stress-related hair loss is minimal. After ruling out other causes of hair loss, your doctor will likely recommend changes to your diet or ideas to help relieve your stress. Keep in mind that it can take months for your hair to grow back even after stressors are removed.
Hair loss due to illness
Any type of prolonged illness or surgery can result in hair loss. Medicines used to fight certain types of conditions can also cause your hair to become brittle and break or fall out completely. The most identifiable type of hair loss is loss associated with chemotherapy. In many cases, this hair loss is complete and affects all areas of the body.
Although little can be done to prevent this type of hair loss or to promote growth during illness, surgery or chemotherapy, this type of female pattern hair loss is also temporary. In most cases, complete recovery of hair occurs after the end of the disease.
You can encourage hair growth after an illness with regular trims and the use of shampoos and conditioners that promote growth. Vitamins and supplements may also be beneficial.
As you might have guessed, hair loss in women is more common than we might think. And many may have hair loss and dismiss it as a natural phenomenon that comes with age. Many of these women are unable to seek the necessary hair loss treatment to help them maintain their remaining hair and regrow new hair. So if you're experiencing hair loss, don't think it's just because you're getting older. Maybe there is something you can do to keep the hair on your head from clogging the drain.
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