Effective Strategies for Treating Baldness in Females

Treating Baldness in Females: 5 Ways to Combat Hair Loss

Women can experience baldness due to numerous causes, but the most common is female pattern baldness. Treatment for female baldness is dictated by the cause, but hereditary baldness may be treated using prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These are supported by clinical therapies in the form of low-level laser treatment and platelet-rich plasma injections.

Though female pattern baldness doesn’t necessarily mean total baldness, thinning of front and crown hair can leave the scalp uncovered. What treatment is right for you may depend on individual preference, cost, and lifestyle factors. Other solutions are considered off-label, where they are not approved but are still helpful for promoting hair growth.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the causes of hair loss and the top ways to treat baldness in females. We’ll also let you know how Hairy Hair can help with your thinning.

What are the Causes of Female Hair Loss?

Hair loss is usually the result of one of three reasons:

• Androgenetic alopecia: The most common cause of hair loss, also known as female pattern hair loss/baldness. This is a genetic condition that is passed down through your family tree.
• Anagen effluvium: Some medicines can injure the anagen (growing) phase of the hair development cycle. That is, the hair simply doesn’t get to grow at all, instead of falling off. Chemotherapy, for example, does that.
• Telogen effluvium: More follicles than usual go into the resting or telogen phase. A stressful event usually causes it, either emotional or physical.

Because female pattern loss is the most prevalent form of shedding, it’s important to know how it works with your follicles in order to be able to treat the condition more effectively. In addition to hair going into a shorter life cycle, locks become finer and remain on your head for less time.

Androgenic alopecia is a progressive condition, in the sense that it might initially start with some excess shedding but will ultimately work towards more extensive thinning.

You might feel like you’re alone if you notice hair loss, but it’s actually more common than you think. The Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology determined that as many as 75% of women experience hair loss from pattern hair loss by age 65. It’s a natural process of ageing, however, so it’s not really something you can avoid, but there are some treatments you can try.

1. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is an approved TGA treatment for female-pattern hair loss. It can be bought over the counter as a 5% foam or a 2% solution, but an expert in hair loss would usually suggest attempting the 2% solution first. The stronger concentration will heighten the likelihood of experiencing minoxidil side effects such as irritation, redness, and unwanted hair growth (specifically on the face).

If you’re not responding to the topical treatment, an oral version is also available off-label. According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, there’s a lot of scientific backing to the benefits of minoxidil, like almost half of patients in a trial seeing an improvement in hair growth. Still, knowing that you must stick with the treatment to see results is vital.

Application depends on concentration, whereby 2% must be applied twice a day and 5% needs once-daily application. The product works by opening up the blood vessels of the scalp, so it is a vasodilator. With enhanced oxygenation and supply of nourishment to your follicles, it has the ability to promote hair growth and strengthen strands.

2.Spironolactone

While some treatments for hair loss in women are the same as those used for men (minoxidil), spironolactone is a good example of a solution used just for women. A similar medication, finasteride, is used as a hair loss treatment for men, but it’s not often recommended for women as it’s derived from a prostate medication.

Compared to other drugs, spironolactone is more suitable for women because it corrects hormonal imbalances in women. It has been prescribed to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and can inhibit dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a baldness-triggering hormone.

This androgen (male sex hormone) is converted from testosterone, which is not just present in men. When DHT forms, it can bind to your hair follicles, causing them to go through miniaturisation. Here, your follicles shrink gradually over time, producing finer and thinner strands. Eventually, it leads to permanent hair loss where your follicles can no longer produce strands.

Studies have shown positive results, with 44% of women experiencing hair regrowth on spironolactone, according to the British Journal of Dermatology. Another 44% of women had no apparent change in hair density from before and after treatment, but that doesn’t mean the medication wasn’t working. Sometimes, preventing further shedding is a good starting point in developing a combination treatment strategy when treating hair loss.

3.Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

This noninvasive therapy is designed to help reverse hair shedding in men and women. Density can increase depending on the number of dormant follicles on your scalp. LLLT works by using low frequencies of red light to stimulate cellular activity in its target location. It’s often used as a support therapy and can work well in combination with other solutions.

LLLT can be done at home or in a clinic with a dermatologist or trichologist. At-home devices are less powerful and need to be used more regularly, but represent a one-time investment. In comparison, LLLT sessions in a clinic give you access to more powerful devices that need to be operated by a trained professional and are administered less frequently, but can be more expensive over time.

You can get LLLT devices as hairbands, caps, and combs, depending on your preference. There’s not a lot of scientific backing to how well LLLT works, but Lasers in Medical Science observed that a significant number of subjects who used a laser device saw increased hair density and hair diameter.

4.Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP injections can help promote hair growth when dealing with pattern hair loss. The plasma in your blood contains platelets that are used to form blood clots through the mechanism of protein release (growth factors). These beneficial growth factors can help to stimulate hair growth by encouraging hair follicles to produce strands.

PRP needs to be done by a professional since it requires clinical training and specialised equipment. Blood is drawn from the patient and put into a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the blood. This is then injected back into the scalp, where there are thinning or balding spots.

Treatment is semi-regular, with monthly sessions for 3-4 months and maintenance sessions every 6-12 months. The procedure can be time-consuming and uncomfortable, and possible side effects include headaches, swelling, redness, and scalp irritation.

5.Ketoconazole Shampoo

There are many shampoos for hair growth and topicals on the market, but a popular option for women is one containing ketoconazole. This drug can help treat female pattern baldness when inflammation is a leading cause. This can happen with androgenetic alopecia, as hair follicles can swell, preventing them from producing strands.

Low concentrations, 1%, can be purchased over the counter, but if you’re experiencing dramatic inflammation, you may need a prescription for a 2% solution from your doctor. It isn’t TGA approved for hair loss, but it can be a solid basis for a combination treatment since shampoos are part of your regular hair care routine.

How Can Hairy Hair Help with my Hair Loss?

Treating baldness in females can be daunting with the amount of options available, but understanding the cause of your shedding is a good place to start. Talking to a dermatologist or hair loss expert can help to assess your options when it comes to treating the problem. Some solutions can be purchased over the counter while others require a prescription.

Choosing just one treatment can be challenging when you’re trying to reverse your shedding and regain hair growth. A combination therapy that uses multiple ingredients to tackle the root causes of thinning simultaneously may give you a better chance at creating hair growth compared to using a single solution in isolation.

If you’re ready to tackle your hair loss, contact Hairy Hair. Our targeted formula is designed to address the leading causes of shedding for women. The treatment works by working to increase nutrient delivery to your follicles while helping to block DHT production.

When you want to get started, just take our short online quiz. This will help us learn more about you and your hair loss so we can create a personalised treatment plan based on your needs. A qualified Australian GP will review your details and give a call to answer any questions you have. Your prescription will then be ready to ship straight to your door for a convenient and discreet solution to fighting hair loss.