Data Shows Hair Loss Isn’t Just a Man’s Problem

While it doesn’t make it any less welcome, there’s a general expectation that most men will eventually begin to thin out and bald. The same doesn’t necessarily hold true for women. Yet millions of women around the world suffer from hair loss. What, if anything, can be done about it?

The Problem of Female Hair Loss

Hair loss in women occurs when the rate of hair loss exceeds the rate of hair regrowth. On average, women typically shed between 50 and 100 hairs per day. If you grow back fewer hairs on a daily basis, hair loss occurs. The medical name for hair loss is alopecia.

Believe it or not, more than 50 percent of women experience noticeable hair loss in their lives. At any point in time, roughly 30 million American women are suffering from thin hair and/or balding. The most significant cause is female pattern hair loss, or FPHL.

Typically, the following factors make a woman more likely to experience hair loss:

• Women over the age of 40

• Women who’ve had chemotherapy and/or medications with hair loss side effects

• Women who’ve just had babies

• Women who use harsh hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails)

While lifestyle factors and genetics tend have a significant impact on hair loss in women, it can also be tied to stress or anxiety.

How to Fight Back Against Hair Loss 

Hair loss doesn’t have to become part of your new “normal.” The following tips can help you fight back with a vengeance:

1. Minoxidil 

The FDA has long approved minoxidil to treat hair loss. It’s sold under the name Rogaine (and other generic brands) and is considered safe for both men and women to use.

Minoxidil works by stimulating hair growth and increasing the growth cycle. It also causes hairs to thicken, which lowers the appearance of patchiness or widening parts.

You can get minoxidil in a couple of different concentrations. The two percent solution has to be used twice per day for best results. The five percent solution only needs to be used once daily.

 2. LLLT

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is one of the lesser-known hair treatment options on the market. However, it’s also one of the most convenient and effective choices for women who want thicker, fuller hair.

LLLT is scientifically proven to regenerate hair follicles and increase the flow of energy to the scalp with just 30 minutes of treatment per day. All you have to do is wear a laser cap, which can be used while you’re doing other activities around the house.

3. Hormone Therapy

It’s entirely possible that your hair loss is directly caused by hormone imbalances – either from pregnancy, menopause, or some other underlying factor.

If this is the case, you have multiple options. There are hormone replacement therapy products for both estrogen and progesterone, as well as birth control bills. Another possible medication includes spironolactone, which is an antiandrogen (meaning it slows down hair loss). 

4. Improved Diet

Hair loss is often accelerated by poor and imbalanced diet and nutrition. If you want to slow the rate of hair loss and encourage regrowth, you need to improve your diet.

A balanced diet with plenty of vitamin D, protein, and healthy fatty acids will help. Food options like eggs, nuts, legumes, cold-water fish, and citrus fruits all help. Likewise, you need to eliminate as many fatty processed and pre-packaged foods from your diet as possible.  These foods increase inflammation in the body and limit your ability to maximize hair growth.

 5. Hair Transplant

The last option, which really shouldn’t be attempted until all other methods have been exhausted, is to get a hair transplant procedure. These procedures typically take hair follicles from other areas of the body (or scalp) and add them to the bald areas so there’s greater balance.

If you want to pursue hair transplant procedures, it’s imperative that you meet with an experienced and licensed doctor who specializes in these methods. It’s also wise to get opinions from at least two different doctors.

Prioritize Your Health

You don’t have to deal with the frustration of hair loss. Through a combination of smart lifestyle choices and the right treatments, you can enjoy thicker, fuller hair for many years to come.