Hair Loss In Women

Pregnancy/Postpartum

Hair loss during pregnancy affects many women and is generally not a major cause for concern. As is the case with other bodily changes during pregnancy, symptomatic hair loss is frequently temporary. Approximately 10-15% of hair is in a “telogen resting state” at any given time, meaning it is not actively growing. The percentage of hairs in this phase may increase during pregnancy for some women. On the contrary, pregnancy significantly increases the level of estrogen hormones in the body which stimulates hair growth.

Hair loss more commonly occurs in the months post-delivery. This hair loss is most often due to increased estrogen levels returning to baseline. Women may experience moderate hair loss during this period as the hair follicles return to their normal cycle. This condition is known as telogen effluvium, where a significant number of hair follicles prematurely enter the resting phase, leading to increased shedding. This condition is most often temporary.

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's reproductive years, is a major contributor to hormonal changes in the body that can lead to hair loss. Estrogen stimulates hair growth by delaying the onset of the resting phase, and as menopause sets in, estrogen levels significantly decrease. This hormonal shift has been linked to female pattern baldness.

Iron Deficiency

Iron is responsible for the production of hemoglobin, a protein essential for oxygen transport throughout the body. When iron levels decline, so too does the delivery of oxygen to hair follicles, impeding their growth ability. This deficiency can lead to telogen effluvium. Maintaining adequate iron intake through a balanced diet or supplementation is a pertinent preventative measure to avoid unwanted hair loss.

Stress

Chronic stress releases cortisol in the body, a hormone associated with the body's fight-or-flight response. Elevated cortisol levels disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, pushing more follicles into the shedding phase. Additionally, stress can constrict blood vessels, reducing nutrient supply to hair follicles. This combination of hormonal imbalance and compromised blood flow contributes to telogen effluvium, leading to diffuse hair thinning. Managing stress through relaxation, therapy, and/or medication is paramount to preserving mental health—and in turn, healthy hair.

Scalp Disorders

Conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and alopecia areata are leading scalp disorders resulting in significant hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis is a treatable condition marked by red, scaly patches. Psoriasis is characterized by a scaly rash and, while symptom management options are available, this condition cannot be cured. Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder, causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. For conditions such as these, it is best to first consult treatment options with your primary care physician.

Balanced Diet

Overcoming the effects of nutrient deficiencies and hormonal imbalance with lifestyle and diet changes will help optimize iron, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. It is essential to avoid diet fads as these diets can cause hormonal issues. Instead, consuming protein-rich foods, along with essential fatty acids, iron, and vitamins D and E, are all hair-nourishing nutrients that help treat hair loss.

Topical Treatments

Topical treatments, such as minoxidil, can stimulate hair growth. Minoxidil is widely known for controlling hair loss, stimulating hair follicles, prolonging the growth phase, and improving hair thickness. This can be an effective over-the-counter option to combat hair loss. It is often used in combination with treatments such as Anthralin applications or coal tar shampoos that must be applied and then washed off to limit irritation.  Other topical treatments can include topical finasteride or a compound that combines minoxidil and finasteride, Elocon (mometasone) ointment, and topical immunotherapy, such as cyclosporin to treat severe cases. Nizoral shampoo containing 2% ketoconazole can be used weekly as part of a topical treatment regime. MAXIM’s topical compound for women has a combination of minoxidil, finasteride, biotin, peptides and other growth factors to stem hair loss and stimulate hair growth. It is very popular amongst our clients with a high renewal rate.

Managing Stress & Exercise

Stress reduction is key to slowing hair loss, using various relaxation techniques to help curb stress-related shedding. Regular exercise is an excellent stress management option as it also promotes multiple health benefits, including reducing risk of hormonal imbalance.

Improved Sleep

Poor sleep habits can worsen stress and increase hair loss. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night is recommended for adults 18 and older.

Hairstyles

Hairstyle adjustments, such as avoiding excessive heat styling, tight ponytails, and braids can contribute to overall hair health. Constant tension on hair follicles can lead to a condition known as traction alopecia, which damages follicles and causes shedding.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is a non-invasive approach that stimulates hair follicles and promotes growth. Worn like a cap, this therapy is safe during pregnancy and can be performed at home. The MAXIM LaserCap sends low frequency red light to the dermis, activating the Wnt signaling channels responsible for hair growth. Clinical studies have shown significant improvements in hair growth.

Hair Transplants

Hair transplants are surgical interventions that offer permanent solutions with natural-looking results. Some of the most effective procedures include:

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): Also known as the Strip hair transplant procedure, a strip of skin is removed from the donor area such as the back or side of the head. Individual grafts consisting of 1 to 3 hair follicles are then implanted into the targeted area enabling denser, fuller hair growth. FUT is a great procedure for women since female hair is typically thinner and therefore, harder to extract individually. FUT is generally performed by a surgeon since it is more invasive compared to FUE.

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE): This is a more advanced method compared to FUT, extracting and transplanting one follicular unit at a time. FUE is performed using cutting-edge systems based on the patient’s needs such as European WAW FUE, S.A.F.E. FUE System, the Ellis System, the Cole FUE System, the ATERA System, and Robotic Hair Restoration. The system used is based on the type of hair, texture, skin and desired look the client wishes to achieve.

Cellular Micrografting

This minimally invasive procedure harvests healthy hair follicles and mechanically removes the dermal papillae's functional matrix components to create an injectable treatment. The injections help repair the organ and cycle hair growth in individuals not in need of a hair transplant, experiencing donor recession, or wishing to improve an area prior to a transplant. It can also be performed in tandem with Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) or Threads.

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)

Also known as a Hair Tattoo or Medical Hairline Tattoo, SMP is a non-surgical procedure that uses micro-needles to apply a medical-grade pigment to the scalp. While used to create the appearance of a closely shaved head for male hair loss, female treatments are used to hide scars.

Polydioxanone Sutures (PDO)

Polydioxanone sutures are a biocompatible material traditionally used as dissolvable surgical sutures. When used for hair loss, PDO improves blood flow and oxygenation of the scalp through new formation of blood vessels. The procedure also supports collagen regeneration, hyaluronic acid and elastin production, and triggers the body's natural platelet response to help promote hair growth for up to six months or more.

Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP)

ACP uses stem cells and other cellular repairing materials found in blood platelets to help stimulate hair growth. The blood is collected from the individual, and the healing materials are separated from red blood cells to create the ACP. The ACP is then injected into the scalp where hair follicles have become dormant or miniaturized.

Customized treatments, from prescription medications to hair transplants, offer tailored solutions for sustainable hair restoration.

Ideal candidates are generally healthy individuals with stable donor hair areas. These individuals would have realistic hair restoration goals with sufficient donor hair to achieve them.

Conversely, poor candidates would lack stable donor hair, rendering a hair transplant impractical. Other factors include pertinent health history, medical conditions, and unrealistic goals. This combination may cause certain individuals to not benefit from a hair transplant procedure.

A successful hair transplant relies on a healthy individual with suitable donor hair and realistic expectations. Consulting with a qualified medical professional is the first step in assessing the candidacy for a hair transplant procedure.