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By Alan J. Bauman, M.D.
A woman’s hair is her crowning glory.
Until you start to lose it.
Over 30 million women in the U.S. are suffering from hair loss or thinning, and while hair loss is often falsely thought of as merely a cosmetic problem, surveys and studies have found that hair loss can have wide-ranging effects on those afflicted, including loss of confidence and self-esteem, and in some cases, depression, anxiety and other emotional issues. The psychological effects of hair loss can be especially damaging to women.
A study conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that women suffered more emotionally and mentally, and were more likely to develop a negative body image due to hair loss when compared to men who were dealing with the same issue. Why is hair loss so emotionally and psychologically devastating to women? In nearly every culture, hair is associated with youth, beauty, and good health, which explains why we try so hard to hold onto it.
There are many misconceptions about female hair loss, most notably how common it is. Roughly half of all women over the age of 40 suffer from some form of hair loss. That’s right – half. While most people tend to think of hair loss as a man’s problem, the reality is that women are almost just as likely as men to lose their hair. They do however lose their hair differently, the main difference being that female hair loss occurs more diffusely over the affected areas of scalp, leaving some follicles unscathed while severely miniaturizing others.
Genetics and other factors determine the time of onset, speed and severity of loss over time. Female hair loss can be mild or severe, and there are a variety of factors at work that determine how a woman’s hair will change over time. Hair loss can start at any age – teens, twenties, thirties, forties, and a woman’s risk skyrockets after menopause. But despite its prevalence, there is an undeniable societal stigma associated with female hair loss. When men experience hair loss, they have the option to simply shave it off and forget about it, where unfortunately for women, there isn’t a similar socially-acceptable option. This is where the higher risk of depression, anxiety and embarrassment comes into play for women.
Luckily, today, there are is a wide-range of treatments for women that can help combat hair loss and thinning at all stages. From FDA-approved minoxidil to special marine-derived supplements, low-level laser therapy, prostaglandin analogs, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and NeoGraft and ARTAS robotic-assisted FUE hair transplants, there are several highly effective medical treatment options available for female hair loss patients. There are also genetic tests available that can predict a woman’s hair loss risk later in life and a scientific measuring tool called HairCheck that can help professionals accurately measure, analyze and track the amount of hair in various areas of scalp over time. This can help monitor hair loss or hair regrowth from treatments over time.
Whether the hair loss is the result of aging, natural hormonal changes, and/or other underlying causes, in most cases, hair loss is a treatable condition and not something you have to live with or hide. Preventing further hair loss and improving hair growth can help restore a feeling of vitality, youth and confidence for women.
If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning, contact a board-certified hair restoration physician who can work with you to determine the most effective treatment regimen for your specific needs and scientifically track your progress. Patients should look for doctor who is a full-time medical hair loss specialist who is certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Only a qualified and experienced hair restoration physician can perform natural-looking hair transplants and prescribe the most effective multi-therapy treatment options, including the latest available products.
About Female Hair Loss:
A woman’s chance of losing hair after menopause is almost just as high as it is for men at that age, but female pattern hair loss looks different.
It’s easy to miss the early warning signs of female pattern hair loss – but catching it early is key, as 50% loss can occur before it’s noticeable to the human eye. There are a number of effective treatments for female hair loss, but the best results occur when they’re started early on.
Hair loss around menopause is common due to changes in hormone levels and activity, but it cannot be commonly cured with hormone replacement alone.
Genetic predisposition, unusual levels of stress, hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, crash diets, medications, as well as a history of illness and surgery can also be contributing factors to female hair loss.
Most women benefit from a combination of pharmaceutical and lifestyle changes in treating their hair loss and thinning. Results are proportional to your level of discipline and compliance with the prescribed regimen.
Medical treatments to protect and enhance hair follicle functioning may include compounded topical minoxidil Formula 82M, platelet-rich plasma injections, Latisse/Bimatoprost or other prostaglandin analogs, low-level laser therapy, off-label anti-androgens (for post-menopausal women only) and nutritional supplements like Viviscal Professional and pharmaceutical grade biotin.
Routine diagnostic and tracking methods with scientific HairCam™ microscopic scalp analysis and HairCheck™ measurements are key to help you and your doctor determine how well your treatments are working and when to make changes to your regimen.
No-scalpel/No-stitch hair transplant harvesting techniques like NeoGraft and ARTAS robotic-assisted FUE can restore density in severely depleted areas of scalp without the risks of scarring, discomfort, downtime and unnaturalness of old-style procedures.
Bauman Medical Group
Hair Transplant and Hair Loss Treatment Center
1450 S Dixie Hwy
Boca Raton FL 33432-7359
Get Directions | View Map
Toll Free: 1-877-BAUMAN-9
Tel: 561-394-0024
Fax: 561-394-4522
Email: doctorb@baumanmedical.com