Is there anything that really works for female hair loss?
Minoxidil (meh-nox-eh-dil): Long used to treat male pattern hair loss, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this non-prescription treatment for women. Today, it is the most-recommended treatment for FPHL. Products containing either 2% or 5% minoxidil have been approved to treat FPHL.
Minoxidil is also the gold standard for growing hair for men and women. Our best overall pick, Nioxin System 1 Scalp Cleansing Shampoo, contains the ingredient.
Vivian Bucay, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist at Bucay Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics says iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamins C, D, E, and B play a crucial role in hair growth.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].
Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc. An abnormal thyroid. Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A. Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.
What is the first line treatment for female hair loss?
Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the first-line treatments for male pattern hair loss, and topical minoxidil is the first-line treatment for female pattern hair loss.
Ingredients that promote hair growth: Minoxidil is the most proven treatment for promoting hair growth in men and women and is the active ingredient in OTC products like Rogaine and Minoxidil (more below).
Hair loss shampoos contain caffeine, DHT blockers, ketoconazole, and panthenol that help strengthen your hair and check thinning. You cannot trust all the tall claims that manufacturers make. In this case, there is little evidence to suggest that these shampoos stop hair loss.
As with male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness comes from hormone imbalances, specifically dihydrotestosterone imbalances, or DHT. This hormone is similar in structure to testosterone, but it is significantly more potent [3]. DHT can attach to receptors on the hair follicles, causing the follicles to shrink.
Vitamin B is one of the best-known vitamins to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. It helps create red blood cells which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles.
In that same vein, adding vitamin B12 supplementation, like dietary supplements, to your routine won't suddenly make hair grow back. However, vitamin B12 may give you the appearance of fuller and thicker hair because the increase in oxygen to hair follicles can help stimulate the replacement of lost strands.
If you're experiencing alopecia, your doctor may recommend certain biotin supplements or a higher biotin-rich diet as a way to combat hair loss. They may recommend upping your dosage to 3 milligrams (or 3,000 mcg) a day.
Vitamin D can indeed cause hair loss, but it's rare. Although the precise role of vitamin D in hair growth isn't well understood, research shows that vitamin D receptors play an important role in the anagen phase of the hair follicle cycle — the phase in which new hairs grow from the follicle to their full length.
Biotin is a natural vitamin found in the body which converts food into energy. For this reason, biotin has been thought to help improve hair health, because the lack of it in your body can lead to hair loss.
Any shampoo that helps keep your scalp and hair healthy can be considered a hair growth shampoo. If you're looking strictly to increase the number of hairs on your head, you may be disappointed, as research at this time suggests there's no magical shampoo that will reverse hair loss.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
