Hair loss in Women

What is Hair Loss in Women?

Hair loss and hair thinning are common issues among women in the Middle East and can be particularly distressing. Normal hair loss is less than 100 hairs per day, especially in the summer or after pregnancy. However, losing more than 100 hairs per day consistently over weeks is a concern and usually warrants testing and treatment.
Am I a Good Candidate?

• If you experience hair loss or thinning, it’s important to identify the type—common causes include hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and hereditary factors.
• If you suspect deficiencies in Iron, Vitamin D, or Biotin, supplementation can significantly improve hair vitality and support hair growth.
• New mothers experiencing hair loss due to hormonal shifts may benefit from specialized treatment to restore hair health.
• Conditions like thyroid abnormalities or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can contribute to hair thinning. Consulting with a healthcare provider for appropriate testing is crucial.
• If you’re open to using medications like minoxidil or Finasteride, which can effectively increase hair density, this may enhance your candidacy.
• Understanding that many treatments require ongoing use (3-24 months) for optimal results shows readiness for a long-term plan.
• If you have noticeable thinning that hasn’t responded to other treatments, you may be a good candidate for hair transplantation, which provides natural-looking results.
• Being open to expert advice and treatments offered by experienced professionals can lead to the best outcomes.
• Willingness to address lifestyle factors, such as stress management, is crucial in a comprehensive hair loss treatment plan.

Benefits:

• Treatments like minoxidil and PRP can significantly increase hair thickness and fullness, restoring confidence.
• Hair transplantation provides a natural look, effectively blending with existing hair and enhancing your overall aesthetic.
• Many treatments, including medications and PRP, offer lasting effects when followed consistently, leading to sustained hair growth.
• A range of treatment options allows for personalized approaches tailored to individual needs and hair loss causes.
• Options like PRP and red light therapy are non-surgical, minimizing recovery time and discomfort while promoting hair growth.
• Treatments often involve identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances, improving overall health.
• Many modern treatments have minimal side effects, especially when managed under professional supervision, making them safer for patients.
• Early intervention can prevent further hair loss, helping maintain existing hair and prevent future thinning.
• A combination of treatments (medications, PRP, lifestyle changes) can lead to more effective outcomes, addressing hair loss from multiple angles.

More Details:

Hair loss and hair thinning are a common problem of women in the Middle East and can be devastating. Hair loss of less than 100 hairs each day, especially in the summer or after pregnancy is often normal. However, hair loss of over 100 hairs each day, sustained over weeks is a cause of concern, and usually warrants testing and treatment. Many women have deficiencies in Iron, Vitamin D, Biotin, or other vital elements for hair vitality, and respond to supplementation. Post-partum hair loss is due to the sudden cessation the growth factors circulating during pregnancy which make the fetus (and its mother’s hair) grow. It is in fact these growth factors that circulate normally in plasma, though at lower levels, that cause improvement of hair growth when PRP is done. Hormonal problems such as thyroid abnormalities or ovarian cysts can also cause hair thinning in women, and need to be checked when suspected so that treatment is started. Aldactone (spironolactone) is given for polycystic ovaries, sometimes in coordination with an endocrinologist or a gynecologist. Stress management is always important in any hair loss treatment protocol.

When women are affected by heredity thinning, or androgenetic alopecia, the problem is usually more subtle than men, may begin later in life, and leads to a progressively lesser density of the hair over the top of the scalp, with more and more of the skin of the scalp showing, especially when outdoors. The back of the scalp might be spared or affected.

In the case of androgenetic alopecia, using topical minoxidil increases hair density. In men and in postmenopausal women, Finasteride can be taken to further address the problem by blocking the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for the thinning process. Many patients have a visible increase in hair density while on Finasteride. Its side effects of sexual dysfunction are extremely rare, especially at the reduced dose prescribed for hair thinning by our team. People with depression should also be careful about taking it. These medications however need to be taken long term, since it takes between 3 and 24 months to see the full benefit, and results will be maintained as long as the medications are not stopped.

Platelet with plasma, is currently a key component of hair loss therapy. It involves the extraction of plasma from the patient’s blood through a blood draw done by our nurses in the clinic. Plasma provides all the nutritional value in the blood, and as it is injected into the scalp, provides a much appreciate growth boost to the hair follicles. PRP is recommended in a series of three-monthly injections and a single session every three months for maintenance. Our patients find it very useful for thickening the hair especially in women.

Another treatment is red light in the clinic or at home which stimulates the growth phase of the hair cycle. It has a small but good effect on the long term. Hair transplantation is a very effective and safe method of restoring a natural hair density in both men and women. Ideal candidates are those that have cosmetically noticeable thinning that cannot be improved with medical therapy alone. Hair transplantation is a very simple and safe procedure, and does not require shaving the hair. Dr. Touma and his team specialize in the latest, safest and fastest techniques of micrograft hair transplantation and combines his skill with his esthetic sense in order to obtain the most natural results of hair restoration. His experience in all the techniques of hair transplant for over 25 years allows him to advise his patients on the best and most cost-effective approach for them.