Toward Optimal Health: The Experts Respond to Hair Loss in Women

The document discusses hair loss in women, emphasizing that while it is common and not life-threatening, it can be traumatic and should not be dismissed by physicians. Hair thinning in women typically presents as diffuse thinning rather than total balding, making it harder to diagnose. The experts, Dr. Vera Price and Dr. Claire Haycox, explain that hair loss in women can be abnormal if it starts as early as the teens or 20s and may go undetected for years. The main causes of hair loss in women are androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary condition, and telogen effluvium, which is usually triggered by stress or other factors and is often reversible. Diagnosis involves a medical history, physical examination, and sometimes lab tests. Treatment for androgenetic alopecia includes 2% minoxidil solution, which must be used indefinitely to maintain results. For telogen effluvium, addressing the underlying cause is usually sufficient. Alternative treatments lack scientific support, and shampoo systems do not reverse hair loss. Hair transplantation is an option, but women are less likely to be satisfied with the results compared to men. Physicians can guide patients to reputable specialists for hair loss treatment.