About one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives; among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men, because it's less socially acceptable for them. Alopecia can severely affect a woman's emotional well-being and quality of life.

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The main type of hair loss in women is the same as it is men. It's called androgenetic alopecia, or female (or male) pattern hair loss. In men, hair loss usually begins above the temples, and the receding hairline eventually forms a characteristic "M" shape; hair at the top of the head also thins, often progressing to baldness. In women, androgenetic alopecia begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the top of the head. A woman's hairline rarely recedes, and women rarely become bald.

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Hair goes through three cycles:

The anagen phase (growing phase) can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.

The catagen phase (transition phase) is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.

The telogen phase (resting phase) takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

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There are three types of hair loss in women:

Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss (FPHL)/baldness: This is the most common type. Hair thins over the top of your head and on the sides.
Anagen effluvium: Medications cause this type because they compromise a growing hair follicle. An example is chemotherapy.
Telogen effluvium: An increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase causes this type. This is the stage where hair falls out.

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There are many potential causes of hair loss in women, including medical conditions, medications, and physical or emotional stress. If you notice unusual hair loss of any kind, it's important to see your primary care provider or a dermatologist, to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. You may also want to ask your clinician for a referral to a therapist or support group to address emotional difficulties.

 

The signs of hair loss in women may include:

• Seeing more hair fall out daily.

• Having noticeable patches of thinner or missing hair, including a part on the top of your head that gets wider.

• Seeing scalp skin through your hair.

• Tying up smaller ponytails.

• Feeling hair break off.

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What causes hair loss in women?
There are several possible causes of hair loss in women, including:

• Damaged hair follicles.

• Changes to your eating habits (rapid weight loss).

• Stress.

• Chemical hair treatments.

• Treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

• An underlying health condition like an abnormal thyroid, anemia, vitamin deficiency, etc.

• Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause).

• Certain medications and supplements (blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of vitamin A).

• Genetic predisposition (it runs in your biological family history).

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​​​​​​​What is the relationship between hair loss in women and menopause?
Your body experiences changes during menopause.

This can affect your hair and cause:

• Hair growing where it didn’t before.

• The hair you have thinning out.

• These changes happen due to varying levels of hormones

          during menopause. In addition, your hair follicles shrink.

        This makes your hair grow finer (thinner).

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Hormonal Imbalance

When hormones are not in balance, hair loss can occur.

A person’s hormones can begin to decline and lose balance as

early as their 30’s.

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DHT: The Hair Loss Hormone
Male hormones, called androgens, are responsible for both female and male pattern hair loss.

Pattern baldness occurs when dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels become elevated in the scalp.

Additionally, low levels of female hormones may cause male hormones to become relatively elevated in women, resulting in hair loss.

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Other Notable Hormones:

Progesterone

Progesterone is a hormone that is typically produced during ovulation but decreases after menopause. To fix the lack of Progesterone, the body tries to fix the hormonal imbalance itself by producing an adrenal cortical steroid called androstenedione. The production of this hormone causes hair loss.

 

Estrogen

In pregnancy, hair loss may occur when estrogen levels first become elevated and then decrease suddenly. When the estrogen levels are high, this interrupts the normal hair-growth cycle, causing hair follicles to remain active when they should have entered the resting phase.

Hair continues to grow throughout the pregnancy. When the pregnancy ends, estrogen returns to pre-pregnancy levels and hair follicles enter the resting phase in bulk. The mass change to the dormant phase severely retards growth and results in dramatic hair loss.

 

Thyroid

Thyroid hormones positively affect hair growth by enhancing the hair growth, so in hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) hair becomes thin, weak and brittle.

Furthermore, hypothyroidism causes loss of the outer part of the eyebrows as well. Acute thyroid condition can cause telogen effluvium, in which hair rapidly falls out after prematurely entering the resting phase of the hair growth cycle.

 

PROLACTIN

High Prolactin levels can cause hair loss in a pattern similar to female androgenic alopecia. It does this by interfering with normal ovarian production of estrogen.

 

What can you do about Hormonal hair loss?

The good news is that advances in science have given us a great number of options to put the body's hormones in an optimal state.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How to diagnose hair loss in women:

• Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.

• Scalp examination under a microscope.

• Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels (like vitamin D, vitamin B, zinc and iron) and hormone levels (like thyroid).

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Once we have completed our consultation and health questionnaire then we will work out a tailored plan for you which may include:

 

• Vitamin Supplementation through our Partner Clinic - Boost IV who offer a wide range of options.

• Depending on Platelet count, we could offer Stem cell derived therapies including Procell or Exosome treatments.

• PRP therapy for hair loss, this plasma is injected into your hair follicles. The procedure involves only minimal discomfort for most people and takes about 10 minutes.

• Within a few months of treatment, you may begin to notice less hair loss. Soon after, you may experience an increase in thickness or regrowth. You’ll receive multiple injections, a few weeks apart, and maintenance every 12 to 18 months.

• PRF therapy for hair loss is similar to PRP but helps with hair falling out and controlling the hair fall.

• GFC therapy is where we use Platelets and Growth Factors from your blood to inject into your scalp.

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