Why Women Have Thinning Hair
Posted on 21. Nov, 2009 by Ronald Carter in Women's Health
Thinning hair and hair loss can be very emotionally draining and stressful for women. It can even have a detrimental impact on their self esteem.
There can be many factors that cause hair to thin. These can include a diet lacking int he right amount of vitamins and minerals and protein in particular, stress, a result of taking certain medication and an imbalance in hormones.
For most women a hormone called Dht (dihydrotestosterone) is the main cause of thinning hair. Dht is a hormone produced by testosterone and it attacks the hair follicle and causes it to shrink.
The Estrogen hormone acts as a counterbalance to Dht and its damaging effects on the hair follicle. As one ages the level of estrogen drops and this can result in Dht becoming stronger in its effects on the hair.
Only two medical treatments have been acknowledged by the FDA as being effective in combating thinning hair and hair loss. These are Minoxidil and Finasteride respectively.
Finasteride is only allowed to be used by men. Minoxidil can be used by both men and women. Minoxidil comes in liquid of foam form and is applied to the scalp twice per day. It has to be used continually or any benefits will be lost.
Minoxidil has been most effective in slowing down and further thinning in women. In some cases it has regrown new hair or thickened existing hair as well.
It is not possible to know how much Minoxidil will help thinning hair until one actually uses it and results can take up to one year to be seen.
There are lots of other products besides Finasteride and Minoxidil that claim to thicken thinning hair and regrow hair. If one decides to buy or use any of these types of products it is important to be aware of any ingredients they contain for health and safety reasons.
Hair thickening products that are cosmetic in nature are also another option for those that want to thicken thinning hair. These products come in a variety of forms such as hair sprays, lotions and shampoos, microfiber powders etc… They usually work on a very similar premise to mascara in that they add a thickening agent or ingredient to thinning hair giving it volume and density. Again, if you decide to try one of these types of products it is of paramount importance that one knows not only how the product works but any ingredients used.
Finally, hairpieces and wigs might be another option for those that want the appearance of a thick, full head of hair.
The best hairpieces and wigs will allow you the freedom to do any physical exercise activities you would normally do such as swimming and cycling. At the top end the cost for hairpieces and wigs can run into thousands of dollars and recurring monthly charges for maintenance. These should be considered beforehand.
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