Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD “My mom’s hair started thinning in her 60s & her hairline is gone. My dad started going bald in his late 60s as well & was diabetic. Now I am thinning, diabetic & in my 60s. Is there any vitamin or tonic that will postpone the inevitable? I am thinning in the front.”
If you’re suffering from hair loss, you shouldn’t feel isolated or alone. Hair loss issues are incredibly common among women. In fact, up to 80% of women will experience some type of hair loss by age 60. Hair loss is not hopeless. There are several treatments for the various types of hair loss, and many of our treatments are new and showing fantastic benefit for those of you that suffer from hair loss.
Destined to Have Hair Loss? Maybe Not!
While we aren’t certain of exactly what’s causing our Dear Reader’s hair loss, with a family history of hair loss in her mother and her father, there’s a good chance that she may be suffering, at least in part, from a type of genetic hair loss, androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is also called female pattern hair loss, and it usually affects women over the age 30 or 40, but sometimes it can even strike soon after puberty! Women with female pattern hair loss usually notice the hair loss at the top of the head or at the front hair line. You might also notice that your part is wider than it used to be. If your parents or siblings have androgenetic alopecia, there’s a good chance that you could develop it too.
Treatments for Female Pattern Hair Loss
1. Minoxidil
Also known as Rogaine, this topical treatment is clinically proven to help regrow hair in women (and men!) with genetic hair loss. Minoxidil is easy to purchase, safe, relatively affordable, and can be super helpful for hair growth. Here’s more info on minoxidil.
2. PRP Shots
Platelet rich plasma shots are safe injections of your own plasma (which contains follicle nourishing growth factors) that can help regrow the hair. Read more here.
3. Oral Treatments
There are prescription oral medications that block hormones called androgens that may be helpful for hair loss.
4. Surgical hair transplants
5. Vitamins
Vitamin and supplements like Nutrafol and Viviscal are often suggested for hair loss, in addition to some of the other treatments listed above. While the evidence for vitamins in hair loss is not yet robust, many feel that they may be helpful in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and age related hair loss.
6. Redensyl
There are also other over-the-counter treatments like Redensyl®. Redensyl® is a topical medication composed of polyphenols, which act as antioxidants (chemicals that stop or delay damage to the cells). Check out this post to read up more on Redensyl®.
Other Types of Hair Loss
Anyone suffering from hair loss should see a dermatologist ASAP. You should never assume that your hair loss is from genetics or old age. Chronic conditions like diabetes can add to the hair loss—and getting them under control help with hair loss! There are other conditions like CCCA and traction alopecia that can cause thinning and hair loss. These are important to recognize and treat, as they can lead to permanent hair loss if they’re allowed to go unchecked
