Hair loss is often thought of as a “guys only” problem. Lots of comments and cruel jokes are made about men losing their hair and trying to cover it up with hats or toupées.
The truth is that hair loss doesn’t discriminate when it comes to sex. Men and women can both lose their hair and experience the major self-confidence and self-esteem losses that often go hand in hand with hair loss. In fact, women might be more likely to feel shame or self-consciousness about their hair loss, since it is perceived as less common.
While hair loss can bring you down and make you worry, the good news is that there are ways to cope with it. In some cases, hair restoration can be very effective. Depending on the technique used, hair restoration can involve taking hair from one area of the body and transplanting it to another, or it can involve treatments that help to encourage new hair growth.
If you’re a woman who’s dealing with hair loss, here’s what you can do about it.
Why Women Experience Hair Loss
One of the first things to do when you think are losing your hair is to find out what’s causing it. Women can experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. In some cases, too much stress on the body or in your life can cause more hair to shed than usual. Known as telogen effluvium, this type of hair loss is usually temporary. It usually occurs when a stressful event, such as giving birth, experiencing an illness, or being under prolonged stress, causes more hair than usual to move into the resting phase. Eventually, those hairs are shed. When the shedding occurs, you might be left with dramatically thinner hair or even bald spots in some areas.
As long as the source of the stress is gone, telogen effluvium usually reverses itself. The hair moves back into the active phase and regrows.
Another common cause of hair loss in women is something called traction alopecia. Wearing tight hairstyles can pull the hair of the follicle, leading to bald patches. As long you change your hairstyle once you notice the hair loss, traction alopecia is usually a temporary issue.
A permanent cause of hair loss is female pattern baldness. Like male pattern baldness, it occurs when the hair follicles shrink and eventually stop producing hair. One of the big differences between female and male pattern baldness is how the hair is lost. Men typically lose their hair in a distinct pattern. The hair on the sides of the head or the back of the scalp are typically “stable” and don’t fall out. In women, the hair loss pattern tends to occur all over the scalp, causing bald patches and thinning hair.
Hair Restoration Options
Multiple hair restoration treatments are available. The treatments range from at-home options, such as using Rogaine at the site of hair loss to in-office treatments using laser light or growth factor injections. The most dramatic hair restoration option is hair restoration surgery, also known as a hair transplant.
During a hair transplant, a surgeon will harvest hair follicles from one area of the scalp or body, where the hair isn’t likely to be lost. The follicles are then transplanted into an area where hair loss has occurred. Over time, the new hair grows into the transplanted area, making it look as if the person has a full head of hair.
Which Hair Restoration Option Is Best for Women?
While hair restoration surgery is usually an ideal option for men with male pattern baldness, it’s not always the best choice for women with female pattern baldness. The pattern of hair loss is much more difficult to predict in women, so it can be tough to know which hair follicles will be susceptible to hair loss and which ones won’t be.
Often, treatments such as growth factor therapy, laser light therapy or using topical products are more appropriate for women with hair loss. If you are concerned about losing your hair, the first thing to do is figure out the cause of the loss, then discuss your options in-depth with an experienced cosmetic surgeon.
About Dr. Ran Rubinstein
Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein is a board-certified plastic surgeon. He offers patients a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatment options at his practice in New York and can work with you to help you choose the hair restoration treatment that will best meet your needs. Dr. Rubinstein offers patients a variety of procedures at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Newburgh, New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, call 845-863-1772 today.
