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Answers to all your beauty questions. Our resident dermatologist, Dr. Geddes Bruce, breaks down the biggest beauty topics, from hair removal to Botox and everything in between. DM @camillestyles with your burning question. It may be covered in a future column.
One day you’re taking it easy, the next you’re feverishly checking your hairbrush and drain every morning. What is the normal amount of hair loss? How much should you be concerned about? It feels impossible to know. From oiling your hair to avoiding ponytails, there may be countless tips and trade secrets to prevent hair loss, but what about hair loss treatments for women? (What I’m talking about is what you deal with when hair loss starts.) The world of women’s hair loss treatment is wide, but thankfully, we’re here to help you make sense of it all. We have experts.
If your hair is thinning or falling out in certain places, noticing changes in your hair can cause panic. Indeed, if you go to the beach too much in the summer and your hair becomes dry, you can revive it with a few hair masks. Even if your hair is thinning due to over-coloring, if you take a break from the salon and take a biotin supplement, your hair will quickly return to normal. However, thinning hair and hair loss feel like a minefield. we understand that. And here’s a helpful answer.
Featured image from the interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.
Ask Derm: Hair Loss Treatments for Women
Over the years, I noticed that my hair was falling out and losing thickness. I’ve seen so many hair growth supplements and treatments on social media, but I’m not sure where to start. Can you share your insight and advice on these treatments and your thoughts on which is best? – Amy K.
Obviously, I didn’t write this as a hypothesis. Many of you are writing to seek dermatologist-backed opinions on hair loss treatments for women. We heard from you and today we invited Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce to share her answers. In the coming days, Dr. Geddes Bruce will address your concerns about hair loss and share insights to help treat and prevent hair loss.
Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce
Dr. Geddes is a board-certified dermatologist and skin surgeon at Westlake Dermatology, specializing in both cosmetic and medical dermatology practices. She sees cosmetic dermatology as synergistic to a happy and healthy lifestyle and regularly counsels patients with a balanced and natural approach to both cosmetic and medical dermatology. Masu.
Everything you need to know about hair removal for women
As a board-certified dermatologist, I know that losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal. But I tell my patients, “If you’re worried, I’m worried too.” Only you know your hair baseline and what changes are important to you. There is no point in being told, “It’s okay because the hair is still there.” If you notice a significant increase in hair loss after several washes, or if you notice visible hair thinning/reduced density or hairless areas, you need to take action.
If caught early, there are many medical interventions that can stop and reverse hair loss. In the most common form of hair loss, hair grows back without you doing anything.
Difference between hair loss and thinning hair
Most people use these terms interchangeably, but hair loss actually refers to increased hair loss (with or without visible changes), and hair thinning refers to a decrease in hair density. (That means you’ll have to twist the ponytail around three times instead of two to hold the hair in place, which will make the hair section look wider).
Hair shaft size is largely fixed and is related to genetics, color, and ethnicity. This change may occur when hair regrows after chemotherapy or when hair loses pigment or turns gray.
Main causes of hair loss in women
Alopecia (the medical term for hair loss) comes in many forms. Some of them are autoimmune conditions themselves, while others are related to autoimmune conditions that can affect other parts of the body. Hair loss may also indicate a nutritional or calorie deficiency. At times like these, it’s worth getting tested, as hair loss can mean a serious problem.
Thankfully, the most common cause of hair loss is a temporary condition called telogen effluvium. This is the period when hair that is in the resting phase of growth suddenly begins to fall out, and up to 30% of the hair on your head can be lost quickly. The most common trigger is a stressful event, which is also the cause of postpartum hair loss. No matter how scary it may be, you can rest assured that the hair will grow back over time.
Doctor-recommended hair loss treatments for women
There are several different treatments for hair loss in women, depending on the specific diagnosis/cause of hair loss. They may prescribe medications to increase blood flow to the scalp or block certain hormones. They may recommend certain supplements or give you anti-inflammatory injections.
We may also recommend a treatment called PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections. Not all dermatologists offer this treatment, and unfortunately it is not covered by insurance, but it can be effective in promoting hair regrowth. I love performing this treatment on suitable candidates as it has very beneficial results.
Is there a “best” hair loss treatment for women?
It’s hard to say what’s “best” for hair loss because it all depends on the cause. But almost without exception, all women can benefit from topical minoxidil, which is an over-the-counter solution or foam. It takes several months of continuous use to see results, and a few people actually see a temporary increase in hair loss when they start using it, but overall it works for most women. .
Almost without exception, all women can benefit from topical minoxidil.
Other possible treatments include:
Hair fibers can successfully camouflage exposed scalp and are easy to apply. Hair toppers and extensions have come a long way and are now much less traumatic and much more natural looking. There are now exciting new drugs that can treat severe and widespread hair loss, so even if you’ve seen a board-certified dermatologist to treat hair loss in the past, it may be worth a return visit to consider these new options. There may be. There are also some newer laser treatments that apply certain growth factors to the scalp after laser treatment, which also stimulates growth.
And finally, PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections are as safe and natural as possible. Blood is collected in the office and quickly spun to separate growth and healing factors from the red blood cells. This part of the blood is then injected into the scalp, like lawn fertilizer. This is a series of injections, usually given once a month for three to four times, and then every six months for maintenance.
What supplements and vitamins do you recommend to treat hair loss?
There are several vitamin blends and supplements that can help reduce hair loss. In addition to vitamins and micronutrients such as vitamin D, zinc, and selenium, they may also contain stress adaptogens such as ashwagandha, anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric, and ingredients such as saw palmetto. Contrary to popular belief, taking large amounts of biotin has no effect on hair loss and may instead cause certain laboratory tests (such as thyroid tests) to show inaccurate values.
There is also some evidence that using some essential oils topically, such as rosemary oil, tea tree oil, and pumpkin seed oil, can help with hair loss. For a long time, patients have used castor oil to thicken and lengthen their hair, and there’s at least one animal study to back it up. Other ingredients commonly found in topical hair removal products include menthol and caffeine, which increase blood flow and stimulate growth.
