Look at almost any women's magazine and you'll get a silent but clear message: Beauty means having a thick, full head of hair. So when a woman starts to notice her hair is thinning, it's often a cause of panic and distress.
Most people think of excessive hair loss (also called alopecia) as a male problem. But it's one that many women face, too, especially as they age. In fact, experts say that almost half of those with significant hair loss are women. Hair loss often speeds up during menopause.
Most women lose hair differently than men. In men, hair loss tends to occur mainly on the crown of the head. This called male pattern baldness. Women usually have more of an overall thinning. The center part gets wider and the ponytail gets a little thinner.
What causes hair loss?
Female hair loss has many possible causes, including serious disease, stress or the use of medications such as chemotherapy drugs or birth control pills. As in men, heredity is often an important factor. Your father or your mother can pass along the baldness gene whether you are male or female. The hormone shifts that occur in menopause also play a major role.
Hair loss appears to be linked to the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone is converted to a chemical called DHT through the action of an enzyme in hair follicles. DHT shrinks the follicles, which can cause the hair to fall out.
Women have a very small amount of testosterone in their bodies. When a woman enters menopause, her levels of estrogen and testosterone change. Her body starts to make fewer of these hormones, but the drop in estrogen levels is greater than the decline in testosterone. This imbalance can lead to hair loss.
What can I do about hair loss?
If you are noticing hair loss, the first thing to do is see your doctor.Hair loss is a sign that something is wrong. That something may be in your family history or it may simply be linked to your time of life.
Your doctor may want to do tests to look for the cause of your hair loss. Be aware, though, that blood and hormone tests may come back normal. Still, these tests can help rule out diseases that could cause hair thinning. Hair loss caused by an underlying condition may stop if the condition is treated.
Treatments that may be recommended for hair loss include:
- Minoxidil 2 percent topical solution. This is currently the only FDA-approved product for hair loss in women. It can be bought without a prescription. Minoxidil helps reverse the shrinking of hair follicles and encourages hair growth. You apply it to your scalp twice a day. It usually takes three to six months to see results.
- Hormone therapy. Low-androgen birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be prescribed to treat female hair loss caused by low estrogen levels.
- Hair transplant. This may be recommended for women who have hair loss that resembles male pattern baldness. Since most women don't have this type of hair loss, hair transplant is rarely an option.
Many women cope with hair loss by trying different hairstyles. A short hairstyle may make thinning less obvious. You can also use wigs, hats or scarves.
Remember to treat your hair gently. Avoid perms, bleach and other harsh chemicals that can cause hair to break.
