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Author:
Rebecca Prescott

Female hair loss treatments often differ to men's, for a number of reasons. The main prescription hair loss treatment for men, the drug propecia, is generally not as effective in women, although an Italian study seemed to show some promise with it.

The study followed the experience of 37 women who were given 2.5 mg of propecia a day, as well as the contraceptive pill. As propecia can cause deformities in the development of a male fetus' sex organs, propecia cannot be given to women who have a chance of conceiving, or who are pregnant.

Results were measured by taking photos of the women's heads, and using a technique called computerized light videodermoscopy to measure the density of hairs. Women tend to have thinning hair when they suffer hair loss, and don't often go completely bald.

After 12 months of treatment, 23 women (62%) had improvements in their hair thickness. Those women who had most hair loss down the middle of the top of the head, showed the most improvement. Only one woman was found to have worse hair loss.

But more studies on propecia as a female hair loss treatment need to be conducted before it is given the green light as a treatment option. Not only is there the issue of fetal damage, making it a risky drug for women, but this study is not conclusive as evidence that it will actually work for all, or most, women.

Generally, women are given topical treatments like minoxidil to encourage hair growth. Minoxidil has drawbacks in that it has to be applied to the scalp twice a day, and some women are allergic to it. Unfortunately, scientists have not come up with a hair loss medication that will definitely work for women.

Another reason female hair loss treatments differ to men's is that the causes of female hair loss often vary. Hair loss in women is often associated with hormonal changes like menopause, discontinuing birth control pills, and after pregnancy. There is a 3 month delay before signs of hair loss will appear, so if you're noticing hair loss now, it was probably triggered 3 months ago. And it can take another 3 months before new growth starts to show.

Another factor in female hair loss is excessive dieting or sudden weight loss. Hair requires nutrients to grow just as any other part of the body does, What we eat can not only affect how shiny and healthy our hair appears, but also hair loss. Whilst men can suffer hair loss from similar weight loss, women tend to be more involved with extreme diets than men.

Female hair loss can also be an indicator of a medical condition, such as an underactive thyroid gland, diabetes, anemia, and PCOS. It's a good idea to get these possible issued ruled out by a doctor first. If they are at the root of the hair loss problem, no amount of hair loss medications or topical treatments or hair vitamins is going to stop hair loss until that is treated.

Hair loss that is caused by physical or emotional stress generally resolves itself when the stressor is dealt with, without any female hair loss treatment. But because of the hair's growth cycles, it can take 6 months before any improvement is noticed.

About the Author :

Rebecca Prescott presents information on necessary vitamins for hair loss here: http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/vitamin-for-hair-loss.html as well as common hair growth products: http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/hair-growth-product.html


Article Source: www.iSnare.com

| Article Keywords: Hair Loss

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Hair Loss... Female Pattern Hair Loss – It Depends On The Genes Female pattern hair loss is very common nowadays due to hectic schedules and stress. Stress is the main cause of female hair loss. Women rarely become bald, but hair loss is common. If more than 100 hairs falls from your head while applying oil or when you shower then you need to take proper steps to control hair loss. Men usually become bald if their hair becomes thin, while women do not completely become bald. It is very rare and if it happens then it could be due to genetic factors. Women could lose some hair or sometimes the hair becomes thin which could be treated if proper care is taken or by consulting a hair specialist. Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in females. If lots of hair falls in a day and if you feel your hair is becoming thin then it is the perfect time to visit a dermatologist. If your parents were bald then the chances of you becoming bald is more. Hair loss or balding depends on the gene of the parents. Female hair loss could start at puberty and it is mainly due to hormonal imbalance. Women could also lose hair once they discontinue birth control pills, or even when they are pregnant. Physical and emotional stress could also cause hair loss. There are various medications available for female hair loss. Homeopathic, ayurvedic, allopathic medication can be bought from stores. There are many homemade remedies, which would help in gaining hair and also thicken hair. While going for a treatment or hair restoration surgery it is advised to take professional advise. Consultation with dermatologists would help in determining the root cause of your hair loss. Around 25 million American females are affected with this type of hair loss. About The Author: To...