Thinning Hair in Women: Causes and Treatment

Are you experiencing abnormal hair fall? Don’t freak out as it has become a common problem in today’s world. However, with certain treatments and advancements, finding a solution to hair loss is the bright side of reality. 

Hair transplantation is one of the verified treatments offering permanent hair recovery. But, owing to the complexity of the surgery, it is necessary to receive it from an experienced surgeon. To ensure this, ask the facility for women’s hair transplants before and after pictures and search reviews. 

Other than that, there are other potential treatments as well. Nonetheless, before discussing solutions, knowing the reasons is important. So, without any further ado, let’s jump to the causes and solutions to hair fall in women. 

5 Causes of Hair Thinning in Women

1. Alopecia

Essentially, four types of alopecia can occur in women:

Androgenetic Alopecia: Hair fall due to genetics is most common in both men and women. In women, hair loss is not concentrated, and they experience overall thinning. 

Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune disorder that causes the hair to fall in patches. The symptoms are commonly mild, but the condition can rarely lead to hair loss of the entire body.  

Traction Alopecia: Harsh styling processes pull out the hair strands and affect the hair follicles. This results in temporary or sometimes even permanent hair loss. 

Scarring Alopecia: An irreversible type of hair loss. In this condition, the hair follicles are damaged and scar tissues replace them. 

2. Hormonal Imbalances

Lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, the two important female sex hormones, can cause hair loss. The disturbance can be due to menopause, birth control pills, or anything that brings about hormonal changes. 

3. Physical or Mental Stress

If you have recently recovered from serious surgery or illness, chances are that the hair production has paused due to weakness. Going through mental stress, anxiety or depression is another causal reason. 

Nevertheless, this type of hair loss is not permanent, and you can regrow hair by overcoming the triggering reason.  

4. Nutritional Deficiency

An unhealthy diet fails to provide your hair follicles the much-required minerals and nutrition. Dermatologists suggest consuming red meat to prevent iron deficiency, a mineral critical for maintaining healthy hair growth. 

Other vitamins like B6 and B12, and minerals like zinc are also listed as mandatory feed for your hair. 

5. Health Conditions

Some medical conditions have a strong link with hair loss. Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism disrupts hormonal levels which lead to hair fall. Contagious skin conditions like ringworm cause scalp scarring. Also, hair shedding can be a manifestation of severe conditions like Hodgkin’s disease. 

Hence, you might be barking up the wrong tree if despite treatments your hair loss is persistent. So, consult a professional to learn about the underlying reason. 

5 Treatments for Hair Thinning in Women

If your hair loss is due to hormonal imbalance, stress, or nutritional deficiency, it can go away after recovery. But certain types of alopecia or health conditions may require your doctor to suggest these solutions:

1. Medications

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved drug. It is applied to the scalp to promote hair growth. For prominent results, you will need to use it continuously for months or even years. 

Spironolactone is an oral medication that counters hair loss by decreasing testosterone production. Anthralin is another topical treatment for alopecia areata in women. 

2. Hair Transplants

Since hair loss in women is scattered, not everyone is eligible for hair transplants. However, with certain advancements, this treatment has also supported long-lasting hair recovery in women. 

During a hair transplant, hair grafts are shifted from the part of the scalp with dense hair to the thinning or balding areas. As the treatment is time-consuming and arduous, the prices are also high. 

Each graft can cost up to $5.44 in the US. To make it affordable, plan to fly to Turkey where the cost per graft drops to $1.07. 

3. Estrogen Therapy

Those suffering from androgenic alopecia can go with hormone replacement therapy. This involves supplying estrogen to recover its deficiency. 

4. Corticosteroids

Injecting corticosteroids at balding areas helps regrow hair in patients experiencing alopecia areata. Generally, evident results are seen within 4 weeks of treatment. Skin atrophy and scalp thinning are some side effects of injecting corticosteroids. 

Besides, you can also try topical corticosteroids, but the results aren’t as effective. Whereas oral corticosteroids may have side effects.

5. Home Remedies

If your hair loss is not severe, some home remedies can also show promising results. The first thing to do is to have a healthy diet plan. Eat eggs, walnuts, fatty fish, and other protein-rich foods. Catching some rays is also helpful in overcoming Vitamin D deficiency. 

Massaging essential oils like rosemary or peppermint oil may promote hair growth. Other than that, onion juice, caffeine, or garlic gel are also effective for some patients. 

Way Forward

Consulting your doctor before trying any treatment is necessary to prevent unpleasant results. Also, don’t let your busy routine delay your visit to the doctor. As any condition, even mild, will ultimately turn into severity if not taken seriously on time.