• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Hair Regrowth Products for Women

September 28, 2010 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

According to the American Hair Loss Association, nearly half the people suffering from hair loss are women. Unlike male pattern balding in which hair loss is almost always genetic, the causes for female pattern hair loss are numerous. Genetics, stress, pregnancy and childbirth, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, the use of certain medications and too-tight hairstyles can all contribute to hair loss. Fortunately, there are hair-loss treatments that encourage regrowth.

Topical Treatments

An increase in dihydrotestosterone, a testosterone derivative, is a common culprit of female pattern hair loss. Large amounts of dihydrotestosterone can cause hair follicles to shrink, resulting in overall thinning of the hair. Ovarian cysts, certain birth control pills, pregnancy and menopause–anything that disrupts your body’s balance of hormones–can cause your hair to fall out. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe oral treatments for female pattern hair loss, and topical treatments are more commonly used. Minoxadil 2 percent is the only topical drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Minoxadil 2 percent was first used orally to treat high blood pressure, and doctors discovered that excessive hair growth was a side effect of the drug. It’s now available as a topical form you apply directly to the scalp. Nizoral 1 percent is an over-the-counter anti-fungal shampoo used to control dandruff. A slightly more effective Nizoral 2 percent is available through physician prescription, but both help control hair loss and promote new growth. Anthralin is a tarry substance doctors prescribe for psoriasis, but for which hair growth is a side effect. Topical treatments work best at the onset of thinning hair.

Oral Medications

Androgens are the group of hormones primarily associated with the male reproductive system and the production of testosterone. Androgens are present in females, though in very low amounts. Low-androgen index birth control pills decrease the production of androgens in women, thereby controlling hair loss. Cimetidine is an oral medication sold under the brand name Tagamet that is used to reduce the production of stomach acid, but it’s been shown to control hair loss in women. Though the FDA approved Propecia for the regrowth of men’s hair, it has not been approved for women as of 2010. Despite some women finding it an effective treatment, women of childbearing age should not use Propecia or even handle it, as it can cause severe birth defects in male fetuses. Spironolactone, known by the brand name Aldactone, is a diuretic that slows down the production of androgen and also blocks dihydrotestosterone from binding to its androgenetic receptor. The most common treatment for women in menopause who are experiencing hair loss is a combination of estrogen and progesterone, also known as hormone replacement therapy.

Corticosteroids

Alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that causes hair loss, is an incurable condition. However, it can be controlled with the use of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that prevent the immune system from attacking itself. These drugs are available in injection, pill or cream form, though they are not widely used because of the potential for adverse side effects.

Laser Combs

A laser comb is a device that uses phototherapy to stimulate new hair growth when waved over the head. Though the FDA approved its use for men, Dr. Robert Bernstein, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University, believes it might actually work better for women. However, there is still debate about its general effectiveness.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Fashion/Beauty

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

spot a child molester

The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Do you think you would be able to tell if a sexual predator … [Read More...] about The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

Baby Hair Growth

Baby Hair Growth

Male Fertility Tips

abdominal discomfort during first trimester of pregnancy

Abdominal Discomfort During First Trimester of Pregnancy

Dating a Man With a Big Ego

Dating a Man With a Big Ego

How Early Can an Ultrasound Detect a Fetus?

How Early Can an Ultrasound Detect a Fetus?

How to Even Out a Spray Tan That Left White Spots

How to Even Out a Spray Tan That Left White Spots

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.