Thinning Hair? Facts About Female Hair Loss And Hair Loss Treatment For Women!

posted in Women's Hair Loss on Apr 08, 2023

It can be scary looking down at the shower drain or your hair brush and seeing clumps of hair - but what is considered normal? For reference, your scalp has about 100,000 hair follicles, so the average loss of about 50-100 strands per day doesn’t make a big difference in appearance. However, as you age, it’s common to start noticing more and more hair in the drain and your hair may appear to be getting thinner, and you may start searching for a hair loss cure. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to explore the causes of female hair loss and options for treatment.

Even though about one third of women experience hair loss (otherwise known as “alopecia”), many don’t understand why their hair is thinning or how to stop it. Here is an overview of the most common types of hair loss, some of them being more treatable than others.

Anagen effluvium refers to hair shedding that arises during the growth stage of the hair cycle, most typically attributed to infection, autoimmune disease, or chemotherapy treatment.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes round or oval clumps the size of a quarter to fall out suddenly. In most cases, there is no obvious trigger for this type of hair loss and there is no cure.

Telogen effluvium is a form of excessive shedding or temporary hair loss that is typically directly related to stress, shock, or a traumatic event. This type of female hair loss first appears as a thinning of hair on the scalp, which may be limited to one area or all over. Keep reading to find hair loss treatment that works for telogen effluvium.

Androgenetic alopecia or female pattern alopecia is most widely known as “female pattern hair loss”, and is the reason 40% of women are seeking out hair loss treatment before the age of 50. This type of hair loss can present itself in the form of thinning hair, a widening part or receding hairline as you age. 

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Here are some of the most common culprits for female pattern hair loss:

Genetics: Hair loss in women can oftentimes be inherited from a parent - something commonly called “pattern baldness”. For women, this type of thinning often occurs over the entire top or crown of the scalp, sparing the front of the scalp.

Menopause: Beyond hot flashes and night sweats, the loss of estrogen and progesterone involved in menopause can also contribute to hair loss. Post menopausal hair loss and menopausal hair loss can be a shock to many, but with more than half of women over age 50 experiencing thinning hair, you’re not alone in your search for answers. Hormones also play a role in postpartum hair loss, which affects nearly half of women.

Aging: As you age, your body experiences many changes, and your hair is no exception. The growth phase of your hair follicles slows down and it takes longer for new hair to begin growing. Over time, hair follicles shrink, so any hair that does grow back is often thinner and finer than younger hair.

The good news is - if you are concerned about thinning hair, there are treatments that can help combat hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. There are currently only two (FDA)–approved ingredients for treatment of female pattern hair loss and telogen effluvium, which are minoxidil and finasteride. Although finasteride is widely accepted as a hair loss treatment for men, it’s actually commonly prescribed as an effective treatment for post menopausal hair loss, as well. Studies show that a combination of minoxidil and finasteride offers the best hair loss treatment for women, but this combination is not available over-the-counter. Prescription treatments offer the most effective solution to age-related and hormonal hair loss in women (androgenetic alopecia or female pattern hair loss) as well as telogen effluvium.

It’s time to stop ignoring hair loss as part of your anti-aging routine. With the help of Musely’s Board-Certified dermatologists, you can access effective prescription hair loss treatments for female pattern hair loss in post-menopausal women. Formulated with ingredients such as minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone, The Hair Solution and The Hair Pill offer hair loss treatment for women by effectively blocking the hormone contributing to hair loss and encouraging hair regrowth. The sooner treatment begins, the sooner you can get ahead of your age-related hair loss, hormonal hair loss, female pattern hair loss or telogen effluvium. Take a look at what Musely’s patients are saying about their results.