Understanding Female Hair Loss: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Female hair loss is a complex condition that can affect women at any stage of their lives. This condition often presents as a widening part, gradual thinning, or a loss of overall hair density, and it can be a significant source of distress for many. Fortunately, there are many solutions to addressing female hair loss, including both surgical and non-surgical options, to suit a range of needs.

California Hair MD is One of the Top Hair Loss Clinics in the World. Dr. Richard Chaffoo and Dr. Susan Stuart, two of the country’s leading hair restoration experts, lead the practice.

Dr. Stuart is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration expert who specializes in many treatments, including those for female hair loss. She originally trained at Emory University and Stanford, two of the country’s most revered dermatology schools. Dr. Stuart is the former president of the San Diego Dermatologic Society and Chief of Dermatology at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla. She is often the go-to dermatologist for several publications, including Cosmopolitan and the Huffington Post.

Dr. Chaffoo is America’s Only Triple Board-Certified Hair Transplant Plastic Surgeon, and he has helped thousands of patients across the country restore their natural growth and scalp health. Dr. Chaffoo is an international guest speaker at numerous meetings on plastic surgery and hair restoration surgery. His lecture circuit includes Paris, São Paulo, and Rome. He teaches and trains other plastic surgeons at the annual Aesthetic Society meeting, demonstrating his dedication to advancing the medical industry and active involvement in the field.

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Stuart, please contact our office online. Alternatively, you may also call any of our Southern California offices to schedule an appointment over the phone:

About Female Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL), also known as female androgenetic alopecia, is one of the most prevalent causes of hair loss in women. FPHL is characterized by the gradual miniaturization of hair follicles, especially in the crown. ⁽¹⁾ The prevalence of FPHL increases with age, and it affects approximately 12% of women between the ages of 20 and 29 years old, to over 50% of women over the age of 80. While the precise cause of FPHL is unclear, evidence suggests that genetic, hormonal, and environmental elements contribute to its development. ⁽²⁾

Hormonal Changes

Many hormones can affect the growth and density of your hair. Many women experience hair loss during times of change, such as menopause. During this time, there is an increase in androgens and the cessation of estrogen production in the ovaries, which can directly affect your hair follicles. This includes higher levels of hormones like DHEA, testosterone, and DHT. The body changes DHEA into testosterone, which is then converted into DHT. This hormone causes hair follicles to shrink. ⁽³⁾

Medications

Medications may lead to hair loss in certain women, including chemotherapy, birth control, thyroid medications, antidepressants, and more. Often, they disrupt the hair cycle by causing hair growth to slow or causing hair to shed. For some patients, discontinuing the medication—if that is a safe option—can restore their natural hair growth and hair cycle. ⁽⁴⁾

Medical Conditions

Several medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory conditions, prolonged infections, and certain illnesses, can trigger hair loss. These conditions can halt the hair growth cycle or damage hair follicles, leading to a gradual decline in density and growth.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Your diet plays a large role in your health and can directly correlate with the structure and growth of your hair. The most common nutritional deficiencies that lead to hair loss include:

Common foods commonly contain many of these elements, but many people are either unaware of their importance or do not consume adequate amounts to support the health of their hair. A poor diet or restrictive habits can lead to depletion of these essential nutrients from the hair, causing gradual brittleness, breakage, and loss.

Stress

Chronic stress can cause hair loss in many patients. This is because when your cortisol levels rise, the stress hormones affect the hormonal secretions of a cluster of cells beneath the hair follicles known as the dermal papilla. These cells secrete GAS6, which can activate the stems of your hair follicles and regulate the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. Elevated stress might limit the release of GAS6, keeping your hair follicles in a resting state. As a result, the body is unable to replace hair as fast as it sheds. ⁽⁶⁾

How Dr. Stuart Diagnoses Female Hair Loss

During your consultation, Dr. Stuart will help determine the root cause of your hair loss and plan the most effective treatment for restoring growth and density. She will meet with you individually to converse about your medical history, current medications, and scalp concerns. Dr. Stuart will also perform a physical evaluation to assess the condition and health of your scalp and analyze your current hair loss patterns.

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Stuart, please contact our office online. Alternatively, you may also call any of our Southern California offices to schedule an appointment over the phone:

Available Treatments for Female Hair Loss

Dr. Stuart’s treatments include medications, topical therapies, and more. During your consultation, she will evaluate your medical history and scalp conditions to determine the most effective and appropriate treatments for you.

Medications for Hair Loss

We offer several minoxidil products to slow hair loss and encourage new growth. We carry this medication both orally and topically, with the topical solution available in both liquid and foam forms. This medication shortens the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle, prematurely forcing hair follicles into the anagen phase to increase length. This results in a longer hair growth period and improved hair thickness. ⁽⁷⁾

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) harnesses the regenerative properties of your blood to stimulate and promote new hair growth around the scalp. PRP contains numerous growth factors and proteins that each play a significant role in stimulating hair growth through cell proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. ⁽⁸⁾

We are the only practice in San Diego offering dual-spin PRP, which allows Dr. Stuart and her team to obtain a larger amount of plasma and platelets.

Candidates

You may be a candidate for our female hair loss treatments if you experience thinning or shedding around various areas of the scalp, such as your hairline or crown. You should be in good general health and hold realistic expectations regarding your results. You should also be a nonsmoker or willing to quit using nicotine entirely. Dr. Stuart will determine which treatments you may qualify for during your consultation, once she assesses your scalp health and identifies the root cause of your hair loss.

Cost of Treating Female Hair Loss in San Diego

The cost of treating female hair loss can vary depending on the type of hair loss treatment that Dr. Stuart performs, the root cause of your symptoms, the number of sessions in your treatment plan, and several other factors. Once Dr. Stuart creates your treatment plan, she will provide a comprehensive cost estimate.

To learn more about the cost of your treatment, please contact our office online or call any of our Southern California locations directly.

FAQ

References

1. Müller Ramos P, Melo DF, Radwanski H, de Almeida RFC, Miot HA. Female pattern hair loss: therapeutic update. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 2023;98(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abd.2022.09.006
2. Dinh QQ, Sinclair R. Female pattern hair loss: Current treatment concepts. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2007;2(2):189. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2684510/
3. Grymowicz M, Rudnicka E, Podfigurna A, et al. Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(15):5342. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155342
4. Alhanshali L, Buontempo M, Shapiro J, Lo Sicco K. Medication-induced hair loss: An update. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2023;89(2, Supplement):S20-S28. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.04.022
5. Guo EL, Katta R. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use. Dermatology practical & conceptual. 2017;7(1):1-10. doi:https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0701a01
6. Choi S, Zhang B, Ma S, et al. Corticosterone inhibits GAS6 to govern hair follicle stem-cell quiescence. Nature. Published online March 31, 2021. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03417-2
7. Badri T, Nessel TA, Kumar D D. Minoxidil. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/
8. Paichitrojjana A, Paichitrojjana A. Platelet Rich Plasma and Its Use in Hair Regrowth: A Review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2022;Volume 16:635-645. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s356858