 |
 |
Step
3 - The Treatments
With women's hair loss, there are only a few clinically proven treatments
that actually work. Here we will discuss the best option for you.
|
|
 |
First
Steps to Combating Women's Hair Loss |
 |
In Step 1 we established the three main types
of women's hair loss: Androgenetic Alopecia, Telogen Effluvium, and Alopecia
Areata. If your condition does not fit into any of these categories, please
review the Alopecia's section on our site for other conditions. Specifically,
we established that women's hair loss is typically due to imbalances caused
by medications, abnormal hormonal functions within the body, and often
times, simple hormonal imbalances. Such things may resolve by themselves
over time, or meds can be administered to stabilize the imbalance. The
upside of this news is that unlike male pattern baldness, women's hair
loss can reverse over time and treatment can stop. The downside is that
there are fewer available treatments for women than for men.
In Step 2 we discussed the importance of blood
tests to determine exactly what may be causing your hair loss, and how
imperative it is to find an educated specialist to follow up with you.
Now, in Step 3, the assumption is that you have already been to a physician
and received an accurate diagnosis. We cannot stress how important it
is that this is done prior to evaluating the available treatments. Why?
Because certain treatments can potentially exacerbate certain types of
Alopecia, and make them worse. Therefore, we are going to categorize the
available treatments by the types of Alopecia, to ensure that no mistakes
are made.
 |
Hair
Loss Video Webcast |
 |
 |
Treatments
for Female Androgenetic Alopecia
|
 |
Female Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA): Appears
as diffuse thinning of hair throughout the scalp, resulting in overall
reduced hair density. Typically appears at times of hormonal change
whether by medications or systemic hormonal imbalances.
Antiandrogen Treatment: Since Androgenetic
Alopecia is by nature a byproduct of elevated androgen levels in your
body, the most common treatment for it is an Antiandrogen. Unfortunately,
no Antiandrogen treatments that work for women have gotten as far as
FDA approval for use in treating women's hair loss. Because of this,
it is vital that you work together with your dermatologist to determine
the benefits and drawbacks of each of the following antiandrogens.
|
Antiandrogen
Treatments for AGA |
|
|
» Spironolactone - This is the most well
known and at this time highly recommended oral Antiandrogen for
women available. We know of more than a few women who have had
good success in regrowing their hair with it. It is available
by prescription through your dermatologist and is recommended
in oral doses of 100-200 mg/day. Some other antiandrogens that
may help are:
» Flutamide - 250mg orally 3 times a day
» Cimetidine - 300mg orally 5 times a day
» Dexamethasone - 0.25 to 0.75mg per night
» Cyproterone Acetate - 50 to 150mg a day (not available
in US)
» Desogestrel: Desogen, Ortho-Cept
» Norgestimate: Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen (yes
it can potentially grow hair too!)
» Norethindrone: Micronor, Nor-OD, Ovcon-35, Brevicon,
Modicon, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho-Novum 10-11, Tri-Norinyl, Norinyl
and Orthol/35
» Ethynodiol diacetate: Demulen 1/35
» Levonorgestrel: TriphasilfTri-Levlen, Nordette
» Norgestrel: Lo/Ovral, Ovrefte, Ovral
» Norethindrone acetate: Loestrin 1/20, Loestrin
1.5/30
» Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
» Leuprolide (Lupron-Depot), 3.75 mg/month intramuscularly,
plus 0.625 mg conjugated estrogens and cyclic medroxyprogesterone
acetate 10 mg (from days 1-12 of each month)
» Nafarelin (400 [Lg intranasally twice a day), plus
Norinyl 1/35 tablets daily for 21 of 28 days, orally
|
|
 |
|
 |
Many of these treatments are used to treat AGA in women, however
it must be kept in mind that there is no hard evidence for any of these
agents to cause cosmetically acceptable hair growth. Many of these items
are best used to halt further loss.
 |
Dont
have time to read the whole Guide? Go
Here!
|
 |
Growth Stimulants: The other most
common method of treating AGA in women is the use of growth stimulants.
Fortunately one has been approved by the FDA and proven to work for
women, and this is Minoxidil in the 2% form. Rogaine for Women is a
product that contains this ingredient. It is suggested that you use
this treatment alone, or in combination with oral Spironolactone to
achieve best results. You must give it at least 3 to 6 months to begin
to really work for you. Once again, the assumption is that you have
been diagnosed with AGA, and not Alopecia Areata or Telogen Effluvium.
If you do have AA or TE, Minoxidil can potentially do more harm than
good. This is why you MUST have the bloodwork done before you begin
any treatments!
|
Other
Potentially Helpful Growth Stimulants |
|
It should be noted that all of these treatments must be continued if you
want to maintain the results they give you. If you are on another regimen
to reverse the hormonal imbalances in your system found from the bloodwork,
you can expect to taper off these treatments after several months, minimum.
A more complete review of these antiandrogen treatments
for women's hair loss can be found in the following article written by
Dr. Marty Sawaya, one of the leading researchers in women's hair loss.
If Minoxidil and Spiro do not work for you, and you are becoming concerned,
you may want to print out this page and the PDF file and discuss them
with your dermatologist. Our highest hope is that you will be aware of
all the possible options available to you, and that your doctor will be
willing to work with you.
HairlossTalk Recommendation: Our recommendation
is the use of 2% Minoxidil as found in Rogaine for Women, or other generic
formula's. You may graduate to 5% if after 6 months you do not see results.
We also recommend Nizoral shampoo, and after discussing it with your doctor,
oral Spironolactone. These three treatments alone or in combination are
effective at reversing Androgenetic Alopecia in Women. They should be
tried first, and all other potentially helpful treatments can be added
to them, or used later, and only if you do not see results.
|
Hair
Loss Video Webcast |
|
|
Treatments
for Female Telogen Effluvium
|
|
Female Telogen Effluvium: Appears as diffuse
thinning of hair throughout the scalp, resulting in overall reduced hair
density. TE is a larger number of follicles entering into the resting
phase than normal. It is caused by hormonal imbalances, and vitamin deficiencies.
The Good news about Telogen Effluvium: The
vast majority of people with TE will see a full recovery of their hair.
Therefore the treatment of TE is (1) To repair the imbalance detected
in blood tests and/or (2) stimulate hair growth until the condition causing
the TE stops.
|
Treatments
for Reversing Telogen Effluvium |
|
HairlossTalk Recommendation: Our
recommendation is to use 2% Minoxidil as found in Rogaine for Women,
or other generic formula's. You may graduate to 5% if after 6 months
you do not see results. We also recommend Tricomin therapy spray as
it was made specifically for shortening the resting phase of the follicle.
Additionally, you may use Nizoral shampoo, as it has growth stimulating
properties. Only the proven treatments listed above should be tried
first. All other potentially helpful treatments can be added to them,
or used later, and only if you do not see results.
|
Treatments
for Female Alopecia Areata
|
|
Female Alopecia Areata: Appears
as small to larger sized patches of missing hair depending upon severity.
Can be caused by several factors which blood tests may reveal. Many
times will reverse once imbalances in the system have been rectified,
or naturally return to normal. Can reverse even after several years
of being present.
Treatment of Alopecia Areata is dependent upon which type you have.
Typically there is a mild type resulting in less than 50% loss of hair,
and another more extensive type resulting in greater than 50% loss.
|
Treatments
for Alopecia Areata |
|
|
Treatments for Mild Alopecia Areata:
Please be advised that these treatments are only recommended after
complete bloodwork has been done as mentioned in Step
2, and with the consent of your physician.
» Cortizone Injections administered by
physician into patchy areas of scalp.
» 5% Minoxidil applied twice daily. Please note that
there is a slight risk of initial shedding caused by minoxidil.
» Anthralin Cream or ointment.
Treatments for Extensive Alopecia
Areata: Please be advised that these treatments are
only recommended after complete bloodwork has been done as mentioned
in Step 2, and with the consent of
your physician.
» Cortizone Pills. Only take with consent
of physician. Potential side effects.
» 5% Minoxidil applied twice daily. Please note that
there is a slight risk of initial shedding.
» Topical Immunotherapy. Diphencyprone (DPCP) or
Squaric Acid Dibutyl Ester (SADBE). This treatment "agitates"
follicles into growth by causing a localized allergic reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
Please note that all treatments mentioned above must be continued
regularly until hair growth occurs, and even after it occurs in order
to maintain it. The best and most effective way to treat Alopecia Areata
is to have the extensive blood work done and treat it at the root of
the cause.
In our last step, take a quick look at a summary of the only scientifically
based treatments for women's hair loss available today. Afterwards,
you can continue to read in-depth on each treatment, and where applicable,
find information on where to obtain it.
|
