Female hair loss options update.
This update is about the options for female genetic hair loss – for other causes of female hair loss, please click here:
It has always been assumed until recently, that female pattern hair loss is a distinct genetic pattern of hair loss, inherited differently to men and not treatable with male medications. Hair transplants did help of course but it would be better still if further hair loss could be prevented.
However, at the ISHRS conference in Las Vegas, Dr Rogers attended a number of specialist lectures demonstrating a change in thinking about female pattern hair loss:
Essentially, there is more and more clinical, experimental and genetic evidence to suggest that male, androgenic pattern hair loss is the root cause of female pattern also. There is still a lot to elucidate yet as it is unclear why male pattern hair loss looks different to female pattern hair loss. Additionally, some men exhibit a female type pattern of hair loss and some women a male type of hair loss.
There have been a number of trials treating women with medications but they were inconclusive or contradictory. However, since the trials have increased the prescribed doses, it seems more women do respond to these hair loss drugs. It’s very specialised but includes:
spironolactone and cyproterone acetate
estrogels
Finasteride and Dutasteride
and a few more esoteric drugs as well. As can be seen, they are hormonally acting drugs, unlike Minoxidil
In addition stem cell treatments have also shown promise.