Hair Restoration and Replacement

Female hair loss has been a problem as long as baldness in men but female hair restoration products and procedures have not been available other than to cover the problem up with a wig. Although men are vary vain about their hair it seems women are affected even more by thinning or balding hair. Men may be viewed as older and less virile if they loose hair but for many women, female baldness can be absolutely devastating to their self-image. It is too bad and it shouldn’t be this way but women in general are very cognizant of their hair and looks.

There are many causes of women’s hair loss ranging from medical procedures to hormonal imbalances after pregnancy but the majority of women suffer from female pattern baldness when they have thinning hair. Women can have this genetic condition just like men. In men the problem is Male Pattern Baldness but the causes are the same. A build up of the hormonal metabolite DHT causes the hair follicles to stop producing hair shaft material which in turn causes the hair shafts to fall out of the scalp. If you want to treat women hair loss you need to deal with this build up.

For men there are two FDA approved hair loss drugs that can be used. The first is Finasteride which is taken in tablet form. This drug actually limits the amount of the hormone in the blood stream thus there is less to attack the follicles. Unfortunately there is a possibility for birth defects with this product so women of child bearing age are not prescribed Finasteride. In fact, they are not even advised to touch the tablets for fear of absorbing the drug through their skin.

The second drug which has received FDA approval is Minoxidil. This is safe for both men and women. This drug does not limit the DHT but instead works to counteract the effects. Originally developed as a high blood pressure medication, Minoxidil allows more blood flow to the follicles thus ensuring good oxygen and nutrition to the hair roots which allow the hair follicles to continue to grow the hair shaft material. This product can be very effective at helping to alleviate thinning hair. Women usually will use a 2% active ingredient solution while men will apply a solution with 5% Minoxidil.

For decades the only relief women had for thinning hair and baldness was to put on a wig. This worked OK until women decided they wanted to be physically active in their lives. Now hair restoration for women is developing into a big business and more products and procedures are expected in the next few years. It is time that female hair restoration became as big a priority as men’s.