How to prevent hair loss in women — plus best products to help, according to experts
From hair medications to hair transplants, women have plenty of options to regrow their hair.
Coping with thinning hair can be emotionally taxing for women. In fact, hair loss tends to impact self-esteem in women more than it does in men as it is less socially acceptable for women to be bald. It’s a struggle that’s both deeply personal and widely shared among women of various ages and backgrounds. The good news is that there are many treatments available for treating women’s hair loss without requiring surgery.
What is Female Pattern Hair Loss and What Causes It?
Female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women just like in men. This condition is primarily characterized by a gradual thinning of hair, particularly at the crown and hairline. But what exactly triggers this? There are many reasons for hair loss in women, but evidence points to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as the main culprit. In susceptible hair follicles, DHT can shorten the hair’s growth phase, leading to thinner, shorter hairs, and eventually, a decrease in the number of visible hairs. There are also other causes linked to women’s hair loss, including hormonal changes, stress, tight hairstyles, nutritional deficiencies, and a variety of autoimmune diseases and thyroid disorders.
How Do You Know If You Have Female Pattern Hair Loss?
• Widening of the part: This is often one of the first signs of female pattern hair loss.
• Increased hair shedding: While it’s normal to lose some hair daily, noticeable increases in hair shedding can be a warning sign. If you’re losing more than 150 hairs daily, it’s time to seek help for your hair loss.
• Visible scalp: As the hair thins, the scalp becomes more visible, especially under bright light.
• Hair texture changes: Hair may become finer, and the rate of growth may slow down. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, we recommend consulting a hair transplant surgeon to get a proper diagnosis and discuss your treatment options.
5 Nonsurgical Treatments for Women’s Hair Loss
There are many options for treating female hair loss ranging from oral medications to stem cell banking. We don’t recommend buying hair care products that over-promise but do not deliver results. If you are serious about restoring your hair and want to get your desired results, it’s best to invest in PROVEN treatments recommended by our hair transplant surgeons at Ziering Medical.
Topical and Oral Minoxidil
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication for female pattern hair loss. It works by dilating the blood vessels in the scalp, allowing more oxygen, blood, and nutrients to reach your hair follicles. This stimulates the hair follicles to stay in their growth phase, directly counteracting the follicle-shrinking effects of DHT. To enhance the benefits of minoxidil, Dr. Ziering created the Formula ZMin – a customized, compounded prescription solution containing minoxidil as its main ingredient and other ingredients, including retinoic acid, and a blend of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-androgen ingredients to amplify the results. Minoxidil is also available in tablet form. Oral minoxidil is especially considered when topical minoxidil does not yield satisfactory results. The dosage varies depending on individual needs and the extent of hair loss so it is best to consult with a hair loss physician before taking this medication.
2. Z-Factors
Z-Factors is an advanced hair loss treatment that involves topically applied nanoparticles,
including growth factors, cytokines, and other components. Unlike PRP, Z-Factors doesn’t
require drawing blood and are non-inflammatory, offering a safer option more powerful treatment and hair loss solution. It offers several benefits including slowing down hair follicle miniaturization, stimulating hair regrowth, reducing inflammation, improving hair caliber, and enhancing overall scalp and hair health. This treatment is quick, in-office treatment that doesn’t require any downtime.
3. KeraLase™
KeraLase™ is an advanced hair therapy involving two steps. Initially, the scalp is treated with an ultra-laser to create microchannels for better absorption. Then, the KeraFactor® serum, containing growth factors and proteins, is applied. This treatment is designed to improve scalp health and stimulate hair growth. It’s suitable for both men and women and can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments with no downtime or pain involved.
4. Laser Therapy with the Z CAP
Z CAP is one of the most powerful at-home laser devices available. It’s a non-invasive, painless option for treating hair loss in the convenience of your home. The Z CAP delivers low-level laser light to the scalp, stimulating hair follicles and reducing the effects of DHT. This therapy is suitable for men and women, requires no surgery but may be combined with hair transplant surgery to address any ongoing hair loss or shedding. Results vary per individual and depend on various factors, including the extent of hair loss and genetic history.
5. Stem Cell Banking
Ziering Medical is proud to offer the world’s first non-invasive, follicle-based cell preservation solution in partnership with Acorn Biolabs. This stem cell banking service involves collecting cells from plucked hair follicles and cryogenically freezing them. This process preserves younger cells, stopping them from aging and making them available for future regenerative treatments.
Can Non Surgical Treatments Reverse Hair Loss?
While it’s possible to slow down or stop hair loss in some people, it’s still not possible to
completely reverse hair loss in most cases. This is why our hair transplant surgeons utilize a multi-therapeutic approach to treating female pattern hair loss. Our treatment plans are personalized to address your needs and goals and to get your hair healthy and growing again.
Does Hair Transplant Work for Female Pattern Baldness?
Yes. Hair transplantation is the only solution to restore hair permanently in both men and women. When performed by a skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon, the results can look remarkably natural, making hair loss a thing of the past. Many women are surprised to learn that they are good candidates for hair transplant surgery.
Hair Transplant for Women’s Hair Loss
The most common hair transplant technique recommended for women who are good hair restoration surgical candidates is Microscopic Dissection Elliptical Excision (MDEE), formerly known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). While Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a very popular procedure, it requires shaving the entire back and sides of the head for the harvesting of the donor hair. Further, the MDEE procedure allows the hair transplant surgeon to harvest more high-quality grafts in a single strip of tissue without thinning out the donor zone by harvesting hair throughout the entire donor zone.
MDEE (Microscopic Dissection Elliptical Excision)
In MDEE, your surgeon removes an elliptical strip of scalp tissue from the donor area and stitches the skin back together using the Ziering Tunnel Technique or ZTT. This strip is meticulously dissected into individual follicular units under a specialized microscope and then inserted into small incisions made by the surgeon in areas of thinning or baldness. The main downside of MDEE is the linear scar it leaves in the donor area. This linear scar is nearly invisible and can be hidden by surrounding hair. Though MDEE may seem more invasive compared to FUE, it enables the transplantation of a large number of grafts in one session so it’s the more cost-effective option for advanced hair loss.
Your Hair Restoration Story Starts with a Consultation.
Hair transplant for women’s hair loss requires a different skill and artistry. Women typically aim for a more subtle hairline restoration and enhanced density, particularly in the sides or corners of their frontal hairline which often recedes and thins out just with the natural aging process.
If you’re looking for a hair transplant surgeon who understands the intricacies of women’s hair loss, call us to book a consultation at Ziering Medical. We serve patients all over the greater Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as the greater Southern California area from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills to Newport Beach and San Diego.
Ready to take action? Explore our range of hair care solutions at Ziering Shop.