Female Pattern Hair Loss or other words Female Androgenic Alopecia is the most frequent cause of hair loss in women and will affect about 40% of women throughout their life. It has two peaks regarding age initiations: during adolescence young premenopausal women age of 15-25 years old or post-menopausal age around 50-55 years old.
Signs of Female Androgenic Alopecia are:
- Loss of hair density and widening in the middle of the hair line
- Usually it happens gradually
Association with other medical conditions:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Hyperprolactinaemia (increase in prolactin)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (increase in 17-OH-progesterone)
Treatment for Female Androgenic Alopecia is divided into treatment for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Premenopausal Female Pattern Hair Loss treatment:
- For mild hair loss Platelets Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is a sufficient natural treatment. It will improve the vascularisation towards the hair follicles, increasing input of nutrients and oxygen.
- For mild to moderate case Minoxidil 5% once at night solution or oral Minoxidil capsule can be an option. The patient has very good compliance and agrees to continuous treatment. PRP can be used together with Minoxidil as a complimentary treatment or as a solo treatment.
- It is not necessary to use anti-androgenic drugs in premenopausal female hair loss unless there is a case of high miniaturisation of the follicles. In those cases patient can use Dutasteride 0.5mg oral medication or Dutasteride intradermal meso therapy injections.
In women who intend to get pregnant, we must discontinue any anti-androgenic drugs, depending on the medications, but in most cases at least 6 months before trying for a baby, for example in case of Dutasteride. Please consult your doctor.
In period of trying for a baby a female patient can continue using Minoxidil and PRP. Those treatments we recommend to discontinue when pregnancy is confirmed. Treatment can be resumed after finishing breastfeeding.
Postmenopausal Female Pattern Hair Loss Treatment:
- Anti-androgenic drugs like Dutaseride 0.5mg oral preparation or a direct Dutasteride intradermal injections
- We suggest to combine with Minoxidil 5% once at night solution or oral Minoxidil for convenient use only if patient is compliant and prepared to use Minoxidil long term. Also patient has to be aware of hair shedding on discontinuations.
- We recommend great combination of Dutasteride anti-androgen therapy with PRP
For cosmetic measured patients can use microfibres to cover scalp.