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Hair loss in women can affect a woman's
self-confidence and body image, just as it can in men.
Unlike men, though, hair loss in women tends to occur
evenly over the entire scalp and is manifest as thinning
and increased visibility of the scalp. The hairline
may recede in the front and at the temples, and a "widow's
peak" may form in the front, center of the hairline
on the forehead.
Genetics play a large role in the incidence
of hair loss in women, as does the shift in hormones
that occurs with menopause, but thinning hair or hair
loss may also be affected by many other factors. These
include:
- localized loss of hair from surgery
such as facelifts or
browlifts
- inadequate protein intake (especially
common with bulimia and anorexia)
- inadequate iron stores (more common
in women with heavy periods)
- thryoid disorders (hyperactive or hypoactive),
arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, syphillis, fungal infections,
polycystic ovary disease, or auto-immune disorders including
alopecia areata
- chemotherapy
- medications such as birth control pills,
and medicine used to treat high blood pressure, arthritis,
gout, depression, and heart disease. High doses of Vitamin
A (as with Accutane for the treatment of acne) can also
cause hair loss, as can some medications used to prevent
blood clots.
- stress, including both physical and
emotional stress
Medical options
such as Rogaine and Propecia may be helpful for both
women and men. Rogaine (minoxidil).
a topical treatment, may help to thicken the hair and
prevent further hair loss when used twice a day. Only
the 2% solution has been FDA approved for women, but
the 5% (extra strength) solution has also been used
with good results. Propecia
(finasteride), a prescription oral medication taken
daily, may also slow hair loss and sometimes even promote
hair regrowth, although Propecia
should never be taken by (or even handled by) any woman
that may become pregnant due to the very high risk of
birth defects. The effects of both of these medications
will be lost if the treatments are discontinued.
While men can receive flaps and hair transplants,
treating diffuse hair loss in women tends to be more
difficult because the thinning scalp is not confined
to one area. Hair transplants
may be a viable hair restoration option for women, especially
for those with localized areas of hair loss, such as
hair loss around the incision sites after facelift or
browlift surgery. If the hair loss involves only patch
of baldness, such as with alopecia areata (areas of
baldness) a scalp reduction
may be employed.
Non-surgical and non-medical options include
wigs, hair weaves and extensions, and permanent
cosmetics to camouflage a scar on the scalp.
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