Hair loss as a woman can be hard to face. However, you’re not alone: hair loss affects up to 50% of women throughout the course of their life. And while it occurs most frequently in Caucasian women, it can affect everyone.
While losing your hair doesn’t necessarily indicate something you need to worry about, it can be extremely upsetting and cause you to lose confidence. So, it’s entirely understandable if you’re looking to understand how you can prevent and treat your hair loss.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide, designed to help you work out the best option for your body.
Three key takeaways
Up to 50% of women are affected by hair loss or hair thinning throughout the course of their life. Â
Signs of hair loss in women include your hair falling out and noticing patches of thinning or missing hair. Â
Medical treatments for female hair loss include minoxidil for women, immunotherapy, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy and hair transplant surgery. Â
Types of hair loss in women
Female hair loss occurs when you start to lose more hairs than you grow. Depending on the type of female hair loss you have, this can occur in different ways:
Female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia: when your hair thins at the top of your head and down the sides (the most common type of hair loss patterns in women).Â
Anagen effluvium: hair loss in women caused by certain medications, such as chemotherapy.Â
Telogen effluvium: hair loss caused by stress or a change to your body.Â
What causes hair loss in women?
There are several possible reasons for hair fall in women, including:
damaged hair follicles Â
changes to your eating habits (rapid weight loss)Â Â
stress Â
chemical hair treatments Â
overuse of heat styling tools (hair dryers or straighteners)Â
treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy Â
an underlying health condition (e.g., abnormal thyroid, lupus, anaemia, vitamin deficiency)Â
certain medications (e.g. blood pressure or gout medications)Â
supplements (high doses of vitamin A)Â
a family history of hair loss (due to a genetic predisposition, the main cause of female pattern hair loss)Â
an inflammatory condition that causes itchy scalp hair loss in women (e.g. eczema or psoriasis)Â
ageing Â
Depending on the underlying cause of your hair loss, it may be permanent (female pattern baldness) or temporary (e.g. due to medication).
What are the signs of hair fall in women?
Signs that you’re experiencing hair loss include:
your hair falling out every day Â
noticing patches of thinner or missing hairÂ
being able to see your scalp through your hair Â
feeling your hair break offÂ
Can female hair loss be prevented?
You can prevent hair loss caused by an overuse of chemical hair treatments or heat-based styling. However, you cannot prevent other forms of hair loss.
If you’re struggling with hair loss, you can engage in the lifestyle changes like a balanced diet or gentler hair products. Alternatively, you can use medication like minoxidil, to try and prevent your hair loss from worsening.
Is hair loss normal for women?
“Even though it can be distressing, hair loss can be entirely normal if you have a family history of hair loss or are going through hormonal changes caused by pregnancy or menopause.
“However, it can also indicate that your body is struggling with another condition, such as stress or nutrient deficiencies. So, it’s worth speaking to a GP to explore the cause of your hair loss, as this can help to indicate the right treatment options for you.”
Claire Irwin, Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4UÂ
Hair loss treatments for women
If your hair loss is caused by a temporary condition, it should grow back once you’ve recovered. However, if it is likely to be more permanent, it’s worth exploring different treatment options, such as:
Minoxidil: minoxidil is a vasodilator that widens your blood vessels and is typically used to treat high blood pressure. That means when minoxidil is used to treat hair loss, it is thought to widen the blood vessels underneath the area it’s applied to and allow more nutrients and oxygen to flow to your follicles and stimulate hair growth. Find out more about the side effects of minoxidil today.Â
Immunotherapy: used if your hair loss is caused by an inflammatory skin condition (e.g. psoriasis or eczema) that can be treated with immunosuppressant tablets, such as methotrexate, ciclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine.Â
Steroid injections and creams: steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone) can also be used to tackle inflammation if you have eczema or psoriasis. Â
Light treatment: if you’re prescribed a tablet or cream, your treatment may be combined with exposure to UV light two or three times a week for a few months to encourage hair growth.Â
Hair transplant: a surgical procedure during which a surgeon transplants small sections of your scalp and hair follicles from the back of your head to areas that no longer grow hair to encourage hair growth in the new locations.  Â
Artificial hair transplant: a hair transplant using artificial hairs. Â
Scalp reduction surgery: when sections of your scalp covered by hair are stretched and stitched together to provide more hair coverage. Â
9 tips for managing hair loss as a woman
Some lifestyle changes can help you live with the condition and even encourage hair regrowth, such as:
Changing the way you style your hair: to draw attention away from thinning spots of hair.Â
Covering your hair up: using wigs, scarves or make up until you find a treatment that works or can accept your hair thinning. Â
Going to counselling: to help you manage any distress or upset you feel about losing your hair. Â
Switching to gentle shampoo: hair loss can be aggravated by certain shampoos that contain chemicals that strip sebum (oil) from your scalp. To combat this, you can try using gentle shampoos that are designed to stimulate your hair follicles and encourage hair growth. Â
Taking care of your hair gently: as brushing your hair too much, wearing tight hairstyles and generally being rough with your hair can all contribute to hair loss. Â
Scalp massage: scalp massage has been found to increase blood circulation around your hairline and encourage healthier hair growth. Try massaging your scalp for at least four minutes each day.Â
Using essential oils: rubbing natural remedies that can help with hair loss, like rosemary oil, peppermint oil, or lavender oil, mixed into a carrier oil such as almond oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil, into your scalp, may help to encourage hair growth.Â
Eating a healthy, balanced diet: to tackle any nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to your hair loss. Â
Reducing your stress: for example, with relaxing activities like meditation or yoga, or by getting regular exercise. Â
FAQs
Does the menopause cause hair loss in women?
Yes, the menopause can cause hair loss in women. This is because of the hormonal changes triggered by menopause, which can cause your hair follicles to shrink, leading to thinner hair. You may also experience hair growing where it didn’t before during menopause.
Can women use finasteride?
Women who are or can become pregnant are typically not prescribed finasteride because it can affect your levels of male hormones (androgens) and cause birth defects in male babies. However, some specialists may prescribe finasteride to post-menopausal women or women who are unlikely to get pregnant.
Is female hair loss hereditary?
Yes, female hair loss can be caused by a genetic predisposition to a certain form of hair loss, such as female pattern baldness.
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