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Hair loss is one of those conditions that pose a serious threat to the self-image of every person affected by it. But this problem is much harder in women since society dictates that long and bouncy locks is what is considered to be beautiful. For more relevant hair loss and hair transplant informaton, visit http://drandrewkim.blogspot.com.
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Causes of Female Hair Loss Effect of Hair Loss to Women
Women Health Issues THINGS THAT ALL WOMEN SHOULD KNOW
What is Women
Hair Transplant?
Is there really a difference between the hair
losses that occurs in men from that in women?
Yes there are certain differences in how the
condition progresses in both sexes and it
displays itself in characteristics unique to each
gender.
Androgenetic alopecia is classified into two and
this are named accordingly as Hair Patterned
Baldness in men and Hair Patterned Baldness in
women. They are differentiated as such because
they have specific causes, presentations and
treatments.
One of the most evident differences in hair
pattern baldness between men and women is
that, the hair loss in males is concentrated on the
front. This can be initially noticed by a receding
hairline which in some instances halts at the
crown and forms an "M", or it could progress
into total baldness. Some may lose it near their
temples or a bald spot is formed around the
crown.
For the women, they keep their hairline but there
is apparent thinning near the crown of the head.
What Is the Difference Between Hair Pattern Baldness in Men and Women?
It can also be more evident near the line where
they divide their hair, but a significant and
alarming increase of hairs uprooted while
combing is also a common characteristic.
There are also differences in causes for both
sexes. Common causes for men are old age,
smoking, over production of DHT
(dihydroxytestosterone), lack of sleep, diabetes,
high blood pressure and genetics.
The women's hair patterned baldness can be
attributed to menopause, lack of vitamins and
minerals, low immunity, stress, skin disorders
and decreased thyroid hormone levels. Women
also experience a temporary hair loss and
thinning during pregnancy triggered by hormonal
changes.
Psychological effects also vary between men and
women. It is highly stressful for women to deal
with this condition than in men, because society
commonly dictates that women wear long and
thick locks. Most women define their beauty on
how they arrange and care for their hair.
Image source: http://hair-loss-prevention.info
It is highly stressful for women to deal with this condition than in men, because society commonly
dictates that women wear long and thick locks.
The social stigma of balding also has a
significant amount of psychological blow in
men. The common perception that baldness is
equated to aging can create an emotional stir in
men. Those who are affected by the condition in
their early 20's would be more affected
especially when applying for a job or in dating.
Hair loss presents itself and creates a stress
unique for both male and female. Treatments are
also available and can cater to the specific needs
of both sexes. Women can take hormone
replacement therapy, if the cause is hormonal.
They can wear wigs or weaves to cover up the
thinning areas.
Topical and oral medications are also available;
however in the case with men where genetics is
a big player for the condition, some would opt
for a good hair transplant. Follicular Unit
Transplantation (FUT) is a common and highly
effective method in growing hairs back
permanently. But the easiest way for men to
cover up their baldness is through the use of
toupees.
There are differences of how the condition
manifests itself for both males and females.
These classifications are important because it
can help in deciding the kind of treatment
necessary
6 Causes of
Hair Loss in
Women
Hair loss is one of those conditions that pose a
serious threat to the self-image of every person
affected by it. But this problem is much harder
in women since society dictates that long and
bouncy locks is what is considered to be
beautiful. Hair loss in women is caused by
various factors from biological to environmental
reasons, so let’s look at each closely to
understand this phenomenon better.
Stress
Stress is something that is inevitable and every
day they come in all forms and gravity. But
when stress becomes too much to handle or
becomes chronic, this is when it affects the
body, in some women it affects the hair. This
type of hair loss is more aptly known as Telogen
Effluvium, and those women who have highly
demanding jobs, or those juggling with a busy
lifestyle are more prone to this condition. The
best answer for this kind of hair loss is to find a
way to manage the stressor, because if it remains
to be in one’s life, it is less likely that hair loss
will be resolved.
Thyroid Problems
When a woman experiences thyroid problems,
specifically an underactive one
(hypothyroidism), it is expected that she loses a
good amount of hair. A decrease in thyroid
hormones affects the delivery of oxygen and
nutrients that enables your hair, nails and skin to
grow. There are medications that can help
restore a healthy thyroid function, and in effect
answers hair loss problems.
Medications
It is expected that medications have accompanying
side effects, and one of these is hair loss.
Chemotherapeutic agents, antidepressants,
cardiovascular drugs and antiarthritic medications
can sometimes cause hair to fall excessively. Even
hair loss medications themselves can have hair loss
as one of its adverse reactions. So to avoid this
from happening discuss this with your doctor so he
can instruct you on proper intake or prescribe you
with an alternative.
Low Iron
Iron is one mineral that can be easily depleted in a
woman’s system. This is because women lose it
substantial amounts during their monthly period,
since iron is a major component of blood. Iron
stores are also used up when under stress or there
is a lack of it in the diet. A doctor can order you
for a blood check-up such as a complete blood
count or a hemoglobin test to check for low iron
stores. You can take iron supplements or increase
your intake of dark green and leafy vegetables,
legumes, and protein.
Poor Hair Care
Women like to style, color, or put their hair into all
kinds of treatment. Over time this can take a toll
on those locks which eventually can cause them to
brittle, dry out and eventually fall. Chemicals and
even the way you tie your hair can also lead to hair
loss. To avoid this, modify the way you style your
hair and maybe cut back on the chemicals that you
slather, let your hair breathe for some time.
Genetics
Sometimes in unfortunate circumstances women
are affected by hair loss genes which they acquire
from either their mother or father’s side. This
condition is what is called androgenetic alopecia.
As much as this condition sounds fancy, it is a
nightmare because this will be displayed by
thinning on the hair line and most of the time it
occurs over the entire head. Medications and hair
pieces can be used to treat or conceal the problem.
TYPE OF HAIR
LOSS
Alopecia areata
Telogen effluvium
Androgenetic alopecia
Psychological Effects of Hair
Loss in Women
As psychologically stressful as hair loss is for a
man, it is likely to be even more so for a woman. A
number of scientific studies have shown that
women are more likely than men to suffer
psychologically painful effects due to hair loss, and
that the psychological effects are likely to be more
severe in women than in men.
Reasons for this difference have been documented
in studies of women and men with hair loss who
responded to validated questionnaires designed and
administered by psychologists and physician
investigators:
Women more than men have a significant
psychological investment in their appearance, and
are likely to react more negatively to events such as
hair loss that they regard as changing their
appearance for the worse.
Women are highly sensitive to a social expectation
that "a woman’s hair is her crowning glory". When
she perceives that hair loss detracts from the
appearance of her "crowning glory" a woman is
likely to experience a loss of self-esteem.
Women who have hair loss often perceive that it is
not taken seriously by family and friends. Women
have less of a support system for hair loss than is
available to men. Family and friends may
commiserate with a man about hair loss and even
help him find humor in it. Hair loss (balding) in
typical male-pattern alopecia is an event that is
accepted as "normal" in men. Hair loss in women is
not widely regarded as "normal" even though it
occurs normally in both sexes. The typically diffuse
pattern of hair loss in women is not as well
recognized as typical male-pattern baldness. The
psychological effect of hair loss in women is under-
appreciated, perhaps due in large measure to lack of
public awareness of hair loss in women.
Source: INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF HAIR RESTORATION
SURGERY
The response of women to investigators questions
show that women are often devastated by loss of
hair in any degree from slight to severe:
"I think about my hair loss all the time."
"I wish I had more hair."
"I worry about losing even more hair."
"I feel frustrated and helpless about my hair loss."
"I feel self-conscious about my looks due to hair
loss."
"I worry about how my hair loss will affect my
career/marriage/dating/sexual activity."
"I worry that I am unattractive."
Men can often cope with hair loss better than
women. Women are more likely than men to:
• Try to hide hair loss
• Discuss hair loss with a hair stylist
• Try to develop a hair style that disguises hair loss
• Spend more time on other aspects of physical
appearance to divert attention from hair loss
Even slight hair loss may be psychologically
unsettling for a woman. With whom should she
discuss her concern?
Consultation with a board-certified dermatologist
may be the most effective way to (1) discover the
cause of hair loss, (2) learn the treatment options
that are available based on the diagnosis of the
cause of hair loss, (3) weigh treatment options
based on discussion of procedures, costs and any
other concerns, and (4) undertake a treatment
program agreed upon after full discussion. After
consultation with a dermatologist, a woman with
hair loss might then choose to meet with a physician
hair restoration specialist to determine if she is a
candidate for surgical hair restoration. Often the
combination of surgical hair restoration and medical
treatments provides the most satisfying result.
Unless a woman mentions it as a concern, hair loss
may not be discussed by a woman’s personal
internist or gynecologist as part of a regularly
scheduled physical examination. Thinning hair
may be regarded as a "normal" phenomenon
associated with conditions such as pregnancy or
aging.
However, a woman’s hair loss should never be
overlooked, disregarded or underestimated. Hair
loss should be recognized for the impact it has on
a woman’s self-esteem and psychological well-
being.
The cause of hair loss should be investigated with
appropriate physical examination and laboratory
tests until a diagnosis is confirmed. No treatment
of hair loss should be undertaken until a diagnosis
is made. Hair loss due to the most common causes,
such as hereditary female-pattern alopecia, can be
often effectively treated with hair transplantation
or with minoxidil, the only hair restoration
medication available to treat women with hair loss.
Other causes may require the care of a qualified
dermatologist who has special knowledge of hair
loss diseases such as alopecia areata or lichen
planopilaris. In some cases an underlying cause
such as hypothyroidism must be treated as part of
overall effective treatment. Fortunately, most cases
of female pattern hair loss may be treated with a
combination of minoxidil and surgery.
A number of scientific studies have shown that women are more likely than men to suffer
psychologically painful effects due to hair loss, and that the psychological effects are likely to be
more severe in women than in men.
Women’s Hair
Loss and Hair
Restoration Since hair restoration surgery is a good option for
nearly 90% of the balding men in the country,
women think they will also make good
candidates, but this is usually not the case.
Very few women have the type of hair loss that
makes them good candidates. Most women have
diffuse hair loss instead, an overall thinning in all
areas of the head, including the sides and back,
which are the areas that act as donor sites in men.
It is from these sites that the hair is removed for
hair transplantation to other areas of the head.
In men, the donor sites are called stable sites,
which means that the hair and follicles in those
areas are not affected by the dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) that shrinks follicles elsewhere on the
head. This is the situation in those with
androgenetic alopecia, or what's commonly
called male pattern baldness.
In female pattern baldness, however, these donor
areas are usually unstable. They are thinning, just
like the other areas of the head. The donor areas
in women are affected by follicle-killing DHT.
That means that if you remove hair and
accompanying follicles from these donor areas in
women and transplants them to other areas; it's
just going to fall out. Any doctor who would
attempt to transplant hair from an unstable donor
site is potentially unethical and may just be trying
to take economic advantage of the patient.
Which Women Are
Good Candidates for
Hair Transplant?
According to experts a very small percentage of
women are candidates for hair transplant surgery.
About 2% to 5% of women with hair loss will benefit
from this type of procedure. They are:
Women who have suffered hair loss due to
mechanical or traction alopecia (nonhormonal).
Women who have had previous cosmetic or
plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss
around the incision sites.
Women who have a distinct pattern of baldness,
similar to that of male pattern baldness. This
includes hairline recession, vertex thinning (on
the crown or top of the scalp), and a donor area
that is not affected by androgenetic alopecia.
Women who suffer hair loss due to trauma,
including burn victims, scarring from accidents,
and chemical burns.
Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition that
looks very similar to traction alopecia.
ABOUT US
The Australian Institute for Hair
Restoration (AIHR) continues to strive for
quality service as they put importance on
close communication with their patients.
The success of the company has been led
by the renowned hair transplant surgeon,
Dr. Andrew Kim along with his team of
highly trained and experienced hair
technicians. They underline the
importance of a clear and precise
discussion of what the patient wants and
needs to come up with a common idea of
the desired outcome. They operate in
various locations in Australia including
Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.
Specialties
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
Technique, Eyebrow Hair Transplant