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Physicians are reluctant to prescribe systemic treatments (pills or other form of treatment that affects your entire system) because they can tamper with your body's own androgen levels (see Causes for an explanation of androgens). The doctor will first want to confirm that the hair loss is due to an excess of androgen (another name for male hormones) in the system or a sensitized "over-response" to normal amounts of androgen. Therefore, physicians often choose topical treatments, which are applied directly to the scalp.
Medications
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Both the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. At the end of the day, remember you do have safe and effective options for treating hair loss, and treatment can make a big difference. Taking too high of a dose can lead to side effects, so it’s always best to check with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your diet.
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Antiandrogens can stop the production of androgens and prevent hair loss. These medications may cause side effects, so always speak with a healthcare professional about what to expect and whether antiandrogens are suitable. Low-level light therapy may not be a sufficient treatment for hair loss on its own, but it may act to amplify the effects of other hair loss treatments, such as minoxidil. Because hair loss has many different causes, there are many different treatment options.
When should I call the doctor?
As much as you might believe a hair transplant could be the right move for you, not every person with hair loss is a suitable candidate. Although it differs from office to office and country to country, candidates should generally be over 20 and under 65 with relatively stable hair loss patterns. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s completely normal to shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. However, if you’ve noticed more strands falling out of your head than normal, you may be experiencing alopecia, the medical term for hair loss. Common diagnoses include androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and lymphocytic scarring alopecia, Agbai tells USA TODAY.
Traction alopecia
Female pattern baldness is a common condition that affects many women and people assigned female at birth after menopause. Many people with female pattern baldness accept it as part of the aging process and don’t see a healthcare provider. Reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice signs of female pattern baldness, especially if it causes stress, anxiety or depression. Medications and treatments are available that can stop or reverse female pattern baldness. According to Hardik Doshi, MD, lead surgeon of hair restoration at Ample, shampoos infused with ketoconazole, minoxidil, or saw palmetto may help improve scalp health and stimulate hair growth.
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As with finasteride, it, too was originally developed to treat enlarghed prostates. Available as a topical treatment by prescription, ketoconazole is currently used to treat fungal infections. It curbs the production of testosterone and other androgens by the adrenal gland and reproductive organs (in women, the ovaries). Oral minoxidil taken in a 2.5mg to 5 mg tablet once daily is much more effective than topical due to absorption.
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It’s available over-the-counter—generically and under the brand name Rogaine—in both 2% and 5% formulations. Many people think that hair loss only affects people assigned male at birth (AMAB). However, studies show that more than 50% of people assigned female at birth will experience noticeable hair loss.
Medication
Some people choose to undergo hair loss treatment to remedy these factors. Other people might choose hair loss treatment for a different reason, like improving their overall health by managing the cause of their hair loss. Hair loss treatments—especially those that contain FDA-approved medication—can help prevent or slow hair loss and promote new hair growth.
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Regular pulling on your hair via tight ponytails, braids, extensions, or weaves can cause traction alopecia—shedding caused by persistent tension, per the AAD. “This can eventually lead to damage and inflammation around the follicles that disrupts the normal growth cycle,” Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Mitchell Dermatology in Ohio, tells SELF. “The most common treatment for telogen effluvium is removing the trigger if it can be identified—and also time,” Dr. Lo Sicco says. Your healthcare provider will help you find a treatment option that’s right for you. If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for a few months.
If female pattern baldness affects your emotional well-being, your healthcare provider may recommend you meet with a mental health professional. It’s the most significant cause of hair loss in women and people AFAB. Approximately 30 million women and people AFAB in the United States have female pattern baldness. Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available.
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These are some of the most effective over-the-counter and in-office options. Not a hundred percent sure if the amount of hair you’re losing is normal? Collect all of the hair you find in a day and bring it with you to see your dermatologist when you go in for an evaluation, suggests Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Not all researchers agree that spironolactone works, and the FDA has not endorsed it as a treatment for androgenic alopecia. However, the medication has still been used off-label for years to treat hair loss in women. More research is needed before definitive claims can be made regarding its effectiveness.
Other supplements meant to help with hair loss tend to contain a lot of one nutrient. Because this can cause you to get too much of the nutrient, many dermatologists recommend taking a multivitamin instead. It’s essential that you not become pregnant while taking spironolactone. To prevent pregnancy, your dermatologist will also prescribe a birth control pill if it’s possible for you to get pregnant. Once your dermatologist finds the cause(s), your dermatologist will tell you whether treatment is recommended.
You have several different treatment options to address hair loss caused by female pattern baldness and other types of alopecia. A doctor or dermatologist can help you identify the best approach for your needs. Topical minoxidil is one of the best hair loss treatments for women, particularly those who have female pattern hair loss. It’s not yet clear how the magic happens, but researchers theorize that minoxidil reverses hair follicle shrinkage and lengthens the growth phase. This likely encourages hair to grow back fuller and speeds up the rate at which lost strands are replaced.
In some cases where other treatments are not effective, a healthcare professional may recommend hair transplantation. This involves taking small pieces of the scalp and adding them to the areas of baldness to increase the hair in the area naturally. It works quite well to prevent hair loss and trigger regrowth for most men, and it may work for some women, although women must not take it if they are pregnant. Also, women should not get pregnant while on the drug because of the risk of birth defects in a male infant.
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