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Winter 2010 issue
Thinning hair?
Solutions for common causes
For most women, their first hair scare is finding a few grays. But as you age, you may find that your hair is thinning, too. Half of all women have some hair loss by age 50. While it can be emotionally traumatic, hair loss usually isn’t a health threat. Yet, sometimes it can signal an underlying medical problem. If you experience persistent hair loss, see a dermatologist and check out these common culprits:
1. Menopause Female pattern hair loss, a hereditary condition linked to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), usually occurs after menopause. DHT levels can rise after menopause and shrink hair follicles, producing finer hairs or blocking hair growth entirely. Hair tends to thin throughout the scalp while the hairline stays put.
Treatment > Over-the-counter minoxidil (Rogaine), applied to the scalp, stimulates hair regrowth in about 25 percent of women. For minimal hair loss, a new hairstyle may be all you need. For extensive loss, hair transplants are an option.
2. Autoimmune disorders
Four million Americans suffer from alopecia areata, in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair to fall out in patches. Some women may have only one bout, losing a few patches of hair, while for others, alopecia may come and go for years. Other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, can also cause hair loss.
Treatment > There’s no cure for alopecia areata, but minoxidil, corticosteroids and other drugs targeting the immune system may stimulate growth. Hair loss from other autoimmune diseases usually improves with disease treatment, but some lupus drugs can cause hair loss.
3. Thyroid diseases
An over- or underactive thyroid generates abnormal levels of thyroid hormone, which may cause hair loss.
Treatment >Drugs that stabilize hormone levels can restore growth.
4. Medications
Some drugs such as beta-blockers, antidepressants and blood thinners may cause hair loss in some women, as can chemotherapy and radiation.
Treatment >Your hair will grow back when therapy ends, but talk with your healthcare provider to see if your medications can be changed.
5. Your hairstyle
Excessive blow-drying, perming or braiding can damage follicles, aggravating an existing hair loss problem or increasing your risk of developing one..
Treatment >Go natural and save the damaging ‘dos for special occasions
6. Stress
A stressful event, such as a divorce, can cause hair loss by the handful.
Treatment >Relax. Easier said than done, but the good news is that stress-induced hair loss is usually temporary.
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