If you’ve tried everything to regrow hair on some bald areas on your head without success, you may be suffering from Female Pattern Hair Loss. This is the most common form of hair loss in women. It occurs in the form of thinning and shortened hair strands at the crown. The centre hair part widens, leaving the front hairline unaffected. Understandably, this causes stress since a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. How can this condition be managed? Read on to find out.
What Causes FPHL?
Female Pattern Hair Loss is a hereditary form of balding. If your mother, father, or other close relatives have suffered such hair loss, you’re a likely candidate for the same. It’s more common after menopause thus associated with hormonal changes. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of recovery and hair regrowth.
This type of balding could also point to hormonal disorders. An increase unwanted hair, irregular periods and/ or severe acne point to a deeper problem. In such cases visit your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Types of FPHL
Medically there are 3 types of FPHL:
- Type I- a small amount of thinning that starts around your part.
- Type II- widening of the part, and increased thinning around it.
- Type III- thinning throughout, with a see-through area at the top of your scalp.
Treatment
Various treatments are available for Female Pattern Hair Loss. One route is medication such as minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride and spironolactone. Don’t self- medicate. Visit a doctor for proper direction as these drugs can have serious side effects.
Other options include iron supplements, laser combs, platelet- rich plasma treatment and omega supplements. The ultimate solution is follicle transplant. Follicles from one part of your scalp are harvested then implanted in an area where you’re missing hair. The graft regrows like your natural hair.
In general, the results from these treatments take between 6- 12 months to see.
Is It Preventable?
FPHL isn’t preventable, but you can cut down the amount of hair breakage and loss by:
- Wearing a hat when going outside.
- Avoiding smoking.
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Avoiding the over-manipulation of hair by frequent straightening with heat and tight braiding.
