Hair loss affects a significant portion of the female population, with some estimates suggesting that half of all women will experience it in their lifetime. The online environment often features extensive advertising and influencer content related to hair loss remedies, alongside idealized depictions of hair often achieved with wigs or extensions.
Hair Growth Cycles
Hair growth occurs in cycles, consisting of growth, transition, and rest phases. At the end of its life, a hair strand sheds when a new hair emerges and pushes it out. Typically, this shedding is staggered. However, stress factors such as childbirth or certain illnesses like COVID-19 can synchronize hair cycles, leading to more pronounced shedding. In many cases, hair loss in women is temporary, with hair often regrowing independently.
Causes of Hair Loss
The most common cause of permanent hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, often referred to as female pattern baldness. This condition progresses with age and typically manifests as thinning at the crown or top of the head, such as a widening hair part.
Less common types include:
- Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks hair follicles, often resulting in one or more distinct bald spots.
- Scarring Alopecias: These conditions also cause bald spots and may be accompanied by symptoms like itching, tenderness, redness, and scalp pimples.
Importance of Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is crucial because different types of hair loss respond to specific treatments. Obtaining an appointment with a dermatologist can be challenging, sometimes requiring months of waiting, and some primary care physicians may not prioritize hair loss concerns. Strategies to secure appointments include consistent follow-up calls to check for cancellations.
Telehealth services, such as Hers, offer online consultations and prescriptions, primarily for androgenetic alopecia. However, for less common conditions like alopecia areata or fungal infections, an in-person dermatological assessment may be necessary for an initial diagnosis.
Treatment Options
Several treatments are available for hair loss:
- Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine): An over-the-counter foam that extends the hair cycle's growth phase, increasing hair retention. While effective for pattern hair loss, it can be perceived as messy and is not recommended during pregnancy or nursing.
- Oral Minoxidil and Spironolactone: Some doctors prescribe minoxidil in pill form and spironolactone, often off-label, for pattern hair loss. These treatments are typically managed under dermatologist supervision, including monitoring for potential side effects.
- JAK Inhibitors: Recently approved drugs for alopecia areata that target overactive immune responses attacking hair follicles. Clinical reviews have indicated increased hair regrowth in patients treated with JAK inhibitors compared to placebo.
Living with Hair Loss
Individuals like Thea Chassin, who was diagnosed with alopecia areata decades ago, initially experienced hair regrowth with steroid injections but later became completely bald. Chassin advocates for accepting and living with baldness, encouraging it to become as normalized for women as it is for men. She demonstrates this by sometimes leaving her head uncovered and at other times wearing scarves or hats.
Support and community for women experiencing hair loss can be found through online forums and various influencers who share their experiences.