BEAUTY

COMBING THROUGH THE FACTS HAIR LOSS IN WOMEN

WRITTEN BY MADISON OBERMEYER

hock. Dread. Horror. Fascination. Panic. Curiosity. And then? Action. These are likely the steps you’ll recount to your der-S matologist when they ask about when you first started noticing your hair loss. Dramatic? Always. Alone? Never.

According to the American Hair Loss Association, more than 40 percent of women will experience visible hair loss by the time they are 50. Suddenly all those clumps of hair on the bathroom floor are starting to add up.

We spoke with board-certified dermatologist Dr. John Rupp, MD, and certified dermatology physician assistant Krishna Schmidt, PA-C, at Dermatology Specialists of Kansas City to comb through the details.

You can blame the hairstylists. You can blame the ‘80s. Heck, you can blame the global pandemic we’ve been wrapped up in this year. But when it comes to facing the facts—or, in reality, the hair-clogged faucet—the reason may be looking right back at you.

WHY YOU’RE EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS “Like men, women often experience hair loss with aging,” Dr. Rupp explains. “This type of hair loss is called androgenetic, or female-pattern, hair loss. This is by far the most common type of hair loss and affects more than 30 million women in the U.S.”

Rupp says androgenetic hair loss is generally noticed as a gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss.

Hair loss is written in your DNA, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. Androgenetic hair loss can be caused by a variety of hormone-related factors including ovarian cysts, high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause, according to the AHLA.

“Another type of hair loss is telogen effluvium, which may be experienced by both men and women,” Schmidt weighs in. “This is caused by a major life event such as the birth of a baby, a major illness, a surgical procedure, or any other significant life stressor. Medications can also cause this type of hair loss.”

Schmidt explains that this hair loss generally begins within a few months

of the event or medication onset, and usually self-corrects within 3-6 months (or with discontinuation of the offending medication).

If hereditary loss isn’t adding up, there could be other factors to blame, like scarring. However, Dr. Rupp says this is less common. “[Scarring hair loss] is usually due to a medical condition that destroys the hair follicle and replaces it with scar tissue,” he explains. “Certain hair styles, particularly tight styles or tight braids that cause traction, can cause scarring.”

Because of this, Dr. Rupp says his team generally recommends that any tight hairstyles be avoided. “Once this type of hair loss begins, it can be difficult to treat, but the earlier the diagnosis is made, the more effective the treatments will be,” Dr. Rupp explains.

Sometimes, the culprit is the most simple yet complex answer there is: science. If you’re experiencing circular bald patches as opposed to thinning around the part or throughout the scalp, alope“[Alopecia areata] is an autoimmune condition,” Schmidt says. “It can occasionally progress to complete scalp hair loss—less commonly, it can affect more than just the scalp and can cause loss of all body hair and occur sporadically throughout a person’s life.”

In addition to alopecia areata, certain medical conditions can cause hair loss, with the most common including iron deficiency, thyroid disease, and lupus, Dr. Rupp adds.

THE BEST TREATMENT OPTION FOR YOU Don’t worry—we won’t leave you scratching your head. Now that we’ve covered what may be causing your hair loss, it’s time to survey treatment options.

For hair loss that subsides on its own within a certain period of time like telogen effluvium, no treatment is necessary, but topical minoxidil may be helpful to promote growth. For androgenetic loss, treatments include over-the-counter topical minoxidil (Rogaine) and prescription anti-androgens, as well as other treatments when appropriate. For alopecia and scarring, treatments include steroids and minoxidil, but other treatment options may be appropriate.

In addition to the treatments above, there is a new, non-FDA-approved procedure that Dermatology Specialists of Kansas City and many other dermatology practices are offering called platelet-rich plasma, Schmidt says.

“PRP involves injecting the patient’s own blood serum into the affected areas of the scalp,” Schmidt explains. “This is thought to work because the blood serum contains growth factors that help to jumpstart the development of new hair follicles and subsequent new growth.”

Say goodbye to hormone-induced, hereditary, hairstyle-sacrificed, habitual plucking hair loss. It’s time to put your best scalp forward!

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Cindy Baumann ENDERMOLOGIE SPECIALIST SINCE 2005