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Alopecia in Women |
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Hair loss in
women can be transient
(synonyms = temporary/telogen effluvium/non-genetic) or permanent (genetic/androgenetic alopecia).
Alopecia, or
hair loss, can occur in any body area but is particularly noticeable when it
affects the scalp.
Hair loss can
be temporary or permanent.
Alopecia is not
always associated with ill health, but it may cause embarrassment.
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Causes |
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Alopecia
in women may be attributed to three factors:
aging, hormones, and
genetics.
 Patchy
hair loss is usually due to alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease,
which causes that cause bald patches to appear on the scalp. Areata is Latin for
"round" or "circumscribed", which means that people suddenly see bald spots here
or there, or
little, tiny short hairs that are broken off.
In
alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a
person's own immune system
(white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the
hair growth stage. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round,
smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss
(alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).
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If the hair loss
has any unusual features-suddenly a lot of hair is coming out, if hair is
coming out in a bizarre or unusual pattern, even if it's very severe,
premature general thinning of the scalp, see a dermatologist. |
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Female
Pattern Baldness |
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Generalized hair loss is normal in elderly women as a result of
menopause.
After the hormonal changes of menopause, many women find that the hair on the
head is thinner, while facial hair is coarser. In women, usually the degree of
hair loss is not as extensive as it is in the male population. The most common
cause of alopecia in women is oversensitivity to the hormone testosterone,
producing a characteristic pattern of hair loss. Women with older female family
members who endured thinning of the hair are more likely themselves to be
subjected to androgenetic alopecia. In the Jan. 30 Science magazine, researchers
revealed that the gene harbours a mutation in family members afflicted with
alopecia universalis. |
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Treatment
Options
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Women seeking
treatment options for alopecia should stick to treatment options approved by the
established medical community. Consult a dermatologist who will probably be able
to diagnoses alopecia areata by the appearance of your scalp.
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One medication,
which has been approved, by the United States
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat female pattern baldness is
Minoxidil, used topically on the scalp. Minoxidil (Rogaine for women) has been proven to
show minimal improvements in 50 percent of women and moderate improvements in 13
percent. Minoxidil requires a twice a day application of either the 2-percent or
5 percent solutions. Any gain achieved with Minoxidil will be lost if the
patient stops using the product.
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Corticosteroids
Injected
into the hairless patches may be effective in promoting
re-growth. If your scalp has patchy scarring, you may need a
skin biopsy to diagnose the underlying cause. Scarred areas may
be treated with topical corticosteroids or antifungal drugs, but
if the damage is severe and has affected the hair follicles, it
is unlikely that new hair will grow.
Hair weaving,
hairpieces,
or change of hairstyle may disguise hair loss and cosmetically improve your
appearance. This is often the least expensive and safest method of treating
female pattern baldness.
Suturing of
hairpieces to the scalp is not recommended as it can result in scars,
infections, and abscess of the scalp. The FDA because of the high rate of
infection has banned the use of hair implants made of artificial fibres.
At all costs,
you must avoid hair loss treatment methods, such as shampoos or pills that
promise miracle cures for hair loss.
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Special Thanks to :
Lora Collins,
she is a Medical wig specialist, fitter, certified
hair stylist and color technician, with over 25 years of
experience working with, and wearing wigs. |
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