Treatments For Female Hair Loss
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dickson_Yan]Dickson Yan
Hair loss in women is not as common as male pattern baldness, but still, 50% of women over 40 can suffer from this condition. There are many different causes of female hair loss, the most common cause is androgenic alopecia. This occurs when hair follicles become sensitive to the hormones androgens, which causes the hair follicles to shrink, causes a general thinning of the hair on top.
In both male ad female hair loss, the hair follicles starts off large and thick, then gradually shrinks to produce thinner, finer hair. Where as in males hair loss will result in complete baldness. In women however, the hair follicles reacts more randomly to androgens, resulting in a more diffuse thinning of hair over the crown, and and will generally keep the frontal hair line.
Female hair loss is quite often inherited from generation to generation. Symptoms of hair loss tends to exhibit after puberty, particularly after child birth, slowly experiencing thinning hair on top over the years. Stress is another common cause of hair loss. Other causes include iron deficiency, thyroid conditions and too much hair treatments like perming or colouring.
Treatments
There are good treatments out there for female hair loss. But firstly, it is best to see a doctor to get a thorough check up.
Over the counter lotions containing Minoxidil ( Regaine ) works well in both male and female. The 2% solution is recommended for females and the 5% for males. Some experts says that the 5% is far more effective in female hair loss. The reason the 5% is not approved for females is that it can cause hair growth on the edges of their forehead, and also itching and drying of the scalp. These side effects though are quickly reversed once the treatment is stopped or the concentration is lowered.
The prescription only drug Finasteride ( Propecia 1mg or Proscar 5mg ) has been used successfully in males for hair loss for a number of years. it was originally used in men for prostate disease. it works by blocking the enzyme that converts Testosterone to DHT. It's used for female hair loss has not been approved because they've found that it can cause serious birth defects in women. A number of experts though has successfully and safely trialled in women who can't or won't be getting pregnant. It has shown to have stopped female hair loss and even grown new hairs.
There are some side effects to Finasteride. Some women has experienced hair growth around the hair line and some found the drug can lower their libido. Although with discontinuation with treatment these side effects are reversible.
Another prescription drug that works well is Aldactone ( Spironalactone ). This is a diuretic and Testosterone inhibitor. It works well in some women, but some women found they experienced breast tenderness and other annoying side effects. There are reports that birth control pills high in estrogen can work by overriding testosterone levels, decreasing the chance of androgen related female hair loss. Vitamin supplements like Biotin, Zinc and Iron supplements has also been used to treat female hair loss.
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