Hair Loss in Women- What Can Be Done?
When a women starts to loose hair, it can make her feel like an
outcast of society. People don't accept hair loss in women like
they do in men, women are often times stared at and made fun of.
It is important for a woman to know what causes and what to do
about hair loss. Women need to know if the loss can be reversed
or at least concealed from the rest of the world.
The most common treatment option for hair loss in women is the
use of an over-the-counter drug, Minoxilil, commonly known as
Rogain. This treatment has been shown to work to prevent further
hair loss in women and men. It is recommended that women use a
two percent solution only and to never use the five percent
which may also be available (this dosage can cause birth
defects), but hasn't been shown to be more effective. Minoxilil
is applied two times per day when the hair is dry. However, be
advised that if this treatment is stopped, hair loss will resume.
If none of the non-surgical treatments seem to work in your
situation, and you are losing you hair due to age, you might be
interested in hair replacement surgery. Hair loss in women can
be treated using this method because it utilizes hair from your
own scalp that is not "programmed" by nature to fall out. In
short, the doctor removes hair from the back of your head and
transplants the individual follicles into the hairline at the
front of your scalp. This process may need to be completed
several times over the course of a couple of years as hair
progressively falls out. It can also take up to a year to see
any real new growth from this procedure. Your physician will be
able to answer any specific questions that you may have in
regards to this option.
If these issues to not seem to be factors in your hair loss,
you need to seek the professional opinion of your physician. The
doctor will run tests to rule out any thyroid or alopecia issues.
Many women want to cover up the fact that they are losing hair,
even if they are trying to reverse the situation. Women have
many more options available to them than men do. For example, a
woman can wear a variety of pretty hats or scarves, have a weave
or hairpiece placed into the remaining hair or a wig to cover it
all up.
When you first notice that you are beginning to lose hair, it is
important to rule out any explainable reasons such as pregnancy
(up to 50% of women lose hair after giving birth), age or
nutrition (not getting enough protein, vitamins or calories
could cause hair loss).
If you do not want anyone to know that you are losing hair, for
whatever reason, a wig might be the right choice. Wigs have made
tremendous strides in the recent past; they look natural and can
be styled just like natural hair. It is important however, to
find a hair stylist that is accustomed to working with wigs. A
wig may even be covered under your medical insurance as a
cranial hair prosthesis; your doctor can help you determine if
this is your case.