Hair Loss in Women
The most common type of hair loss in women occurs in a diffuse pattern hereditary baldness in women called female pattern alopecia. It is caused by the actions of two enzymes, aromatase (predominant in women) and 5-a reductase (found in both women and men).
5-a reductase converts testosterone to DHT, and it is the main cause of androgenetic alopecia in men. In this condition the hair follicles shrink and gradually disappear. Women have higher levels of aromatase, but have half the amount of 5-a reductase compared to men. Aromatase is responsible for the formation of the estrone and estradiol in women. It also decreases the formation of DHT. It is the reason why female hair loss is so different from male, with respect to the frontal hairline.
Hair in women is sensitive to the medical conditions. That’s why women should diagnose the hair loss evaluated. There are various medical conditions that cause diffuse pattern hair loss in women.
Those are:
Post-partum and post-menopausal states or ovarian tumors
Iron deficiency
Thyroid disease
Lupus type of connective tissue diseases
Lack of nutrition
Stress and other emotional problems
Several drug intake can cause telogen effluvium, a condition where hair goes into a resting stage and sheds gradually. But this hair shedding can be stopped if the medication is stopped. Similary, improper chemotherapy causes anagen effluvium which shows similar results as that of telogen effluvium.
Drugs that Cause Hair Loss in Women
Blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin
Seizure medication like dilantin
Colchicines and Xyloprim
B-blockers such as Inderal and diuretics
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as prednisone
Medications that lower cholesterol and other lipids
Mood altering drugs
Chemotherapy
Thyroid medications
Oral contraceptive agents
Some diet pills, high doses of Vitamin A and narcotics
Localized Hair Loss in Women
There are two types of localized hair loss in women, namely, scarring and non-scarring types. Localized hair loss can also be divided as genetic localized hair loss (alopecia areata) and localized hair loss by injury (scarring alopecia). In genetic hair loss, especially alopecia areata hair loss occurs in patches and can be treated with local injections of steroids.
Scarring Alopecia can be caused by a variety of medical or dermatologic conditions such as Lupus, Lichen Planus, or local radiation therapy. Hair loss from injuries, or from local medical problems that have been cured, are usually amenable to hair transplantation. Surgical hair transplant is the best clinical method to regrow hair on bald patches.
Patterned Hair Loss in Women
It is similar to that of male pattern hair loss and balding. In this condition hair loss occurs in sides and frontal hair lines. Surgical hair transplantation is the best method to treat this type of hair loss, if there stable donor area is available.
Hair Loss Treatment - Broad Classification
Basically there are four types of treatment for hair loss.
Pharmaceutical Treatments
Surgical Hair Implants and replacements
Hair Systems like Wigs and other removable cosmetic pieces
Biology Of Hair Growth
Hair Loss in Women
Reasons of Hair Loss