Female Hair Loss Treatment

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:15:59 -0700

There have been many articles written in regards to hair loss treatments, but these normally tend to address the issue related to men. It’s important to realize that not all treatments available to men will work equally well for women suffering what appears to be similar conditions. It has a lot to do with the reasons behind hair loss in women.

1) Treatments for female pattern baldness.

Most often, the first treatment used is minoxidil. This is available in a specific formulation for women, which differs slightly from that used for men. Minoxidil is available in the form of a topical solution, tackling the potential symptoms resulting in hair loss. It then assists in the generation of new hair growth. However, this will not work for every woman’s situation. The formulation for women is a 2% solution, whereas the one used for men is a 5% version. It has been stated that if necessary, women can use the stronger formulation, but using only minoxidil to treat hair loss is less effective than other products in the market. You can read our minoxidil review for more information.

Provillus and Profollica have been proven to help females with hair loss issues. You may want to try either Provillus or Profillica before you try any other solution, and see if you could have positive results with either of these. They have provided good results for many women to date, and could possibly be the ideal solution for you.

It has been noted that the drug Propecia, used for treated male pattern baldness, can in some cases be used for women as well. However, there are many contraindications with the use of this product. Women of child bearing age have been warned to stay away from this drug, as it could cause serious defects on an unborn male child. Any female considering using this product is strongly advised to consult their physician beforehand.

There may be an alternative drug, Spironolactone, which could be prescribed instead. This drug is a diuretic which has been known to stop the hormonal activity potentially associated with hair loss.

Unfortunately, in many cases hair transplants don’t work well for females. Their issues with female pattern baldness normally involve their whole head and not just the front or top as with men. Therefore, unlike men, they don’t have the stable hair follicles around the back and sides of their head from which to harvest healthy hair follicles. If this is a choice you’ve been considering, it’s best to consult with a hair transplant specialist for his or her professional opinion.

2) Treatments for telogen effluvium (stress related hair loss).

This hair loss condition is generally related to stress or trauma, and doesn’t require specific treatment with any medication or product. Normally, once the stressful or traumatic experience has ended, hair regrowth returns to normal on its own. However, some women may choose to encourage things a little with the use of minoxidil. This isn't at all necessary, as by simply implementing a healthy diet with an addition of vitamin B your hair can find itself in an optimal growing environment once again.

3) Treatments for alopecia areata (hair loss on part or all of one’s body).

This is another hair loss condition which has been known to resolve itself spontaneously. Occasionally the following treatment options have proved successful to some extent:

- Daily application of Provillus
- Daily application of Minoxidil
- Injection of cortisone into affected areas by a physician.
- Application of 100% aloe vera gel.
- Scalp massage using rosemary and lavender essential oils.
- Daily application of Profollica.

Please note, however, there are no guarantees with any of these products with this particular ailment. However, this by no means leaves patients without hope. Hair has been known to begin the regrowth process after years of hair loss.

As with any condition, it’s always best to consult with your family physician before committing to any one type of treatment, or trying something that is not recommended for use by women.

Pregnancy and Hair Loss

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:16:10 -0700

First of all congratulations on your pregnancy!

You’re certainly aware there will be many changes to come in the months ahead. However, one of those changes could affect your hair, and there are a few details you need to be aware of to prevent any shocks. Your hair can react to pregnancy in different ways; it can become thicker than it was before, or it could become thin and start to fall out. Let’s take a look at why these things happen during pregnancy so you can be prepared, no matter what your case may be.

Hormones have tremendous effects on your hair. Estrogen plays a large part in the way that your hair reacts. If your hair begins to grow faster and becomes thicker, it can most likely be attributed to an increased amount of estrogen throughout your body. Due to this increase in estrogen, your metabolism works at a faster pace. This will result in a bigger ‘rush’ of nutrients throughout your body, which will include your hair follicles.

If your hair falls out during pregnancy, it’s a result of not receiving an adequate amount of the nutrients your body needs. Without those essential nutrients, your body simply cannot produce the required amount of estrogen. This will be most often noticed during the first trimester of your pregnancy, and is normally a result of morning sickness and potential vomiting.

This is one of the reasons why prenatal vitamins are such an important addition to your regime, from the time you find out you are pregnant. It is very important to make sure you are getting the right amounts of nutrients during this time to allow your body to stay balanced. You must remember than your growing baby will be using up a large part of your own supply, and so you require higher amounts of these nutrients than usual.

Another change that you may notice during pregnancy is a change in the style in which your hair grows. Your hair may not only be fuller or thinner, but could also change from straight to curly, or have the opposite effect. This is just another result of the hormonal changes your body is experiencing.

More changes can also occur after your baby is born. You may find that after delivery, your hair is thinning or falling out. This is especially true if you’ve needed anesthesia. Usually, the first three to six months after pregnancy will cause a change in your hair. This should be expected and is completely normal. This is a result of your estrogen levels being able to return to a normal level, slowing down the delivery of nutrients throughout your body.

Knowing what changes your body goes through, both during and after pregnancy, will help you adjust your hair care routine in order to keep it as healthy as possible. Taking some extra time and effort to pamper yourself (and your hair) during this precious milestone of your life will not only help to keep your hair healthy, but will allow you to enjoy your pregnancy all the more.