TABLE OF CONTENTS
• What Is Hair Loss?
• Signs of Hair Loss
• Learn More About Hair Loss With Dr. Ingleton
• What Causes Hair Loss?
• Shedding vs. Hair Loss
• Are Hair Loss and Alopecia the Same Thing?
• Is Hair Loss Preventable?
• How Can You Treat Hair Loss?
• Does Scalp Health Impact the Effectiveness of Minoxidil for Hair Growth?
• Do Home Remedies Work?
What Is Hair Loss?
Before we jump into our Q&A, let’s clear up what hair loss truly is. Hair loss occurs when the hair growth cycle, which consists of the growing, transition, resting, and shedding phases, is disrupted. The causes of female hair loss range from genetic conditions to stress and can result in everything from thinning hair to bald patches. There are also hormonal causes of female hair loss: when women’s hormones change after giving birth or during menopause, they may lose hair. The medication Minoxidil is commonly used for treating female hair loss. You can find it in various products, including our new Goddess Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment.
Signs of Hair Loss
Hair loss affects both women and men. Regarding signs of hair loss, females might notice any of the following: Learn More About Hair Loss With Dr. Ingleton
Dr. Ingleton is a board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of Ingleton Dermatology in New York City. We sat down with her to discuss the most common causes of female hair loss and get her tips for treatment and prevention.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: Hair loss can be caused by a multitude of factors, but some of the most common causes are genetics, medical conditions, hairstyling habits, and extreme stress. It's important to figure out the underlying cause.
Can Stress Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: Absolutely. Immense and long-lived stress can trigger a general shedding of your hair. The good news is that it’s reversible, but even when the stressor is gone, hair follicles need time, and sometimes help, to switch back to the growing phase.
Can Wearing Wigs Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: Unfortunately, yes. Wigs can cause hair loss from friction, typically around the perimeter and edges of hair. This is largely due to clips, tight elastic bands, and reactions to lace glue.
Can Pregnancy Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: Yes. During pregnancy, increased blood flow to the scalp can actually make hair thicker, but postpartum, many women experience shedding around 3 months after birth. Rest assured this will usually resolve itself over a few months.
Can Menopause Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: Yes. Menopause can lead to hair thinning and hair loss, often at the top of the crown area. Minoxidil can be very helpful in treating this form of hair loss.
Can Shampoo and Styling Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: [They] typically [do] not. Whenever there is "hair loss" from styling, it is due to dryness and breakage of the hair shaft.
Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: No. Although dandruff is a scalp concern, there isn't any evidence connecting dandruff and hair loss.
Shedding vs. Hair Loss
It’s time to clear up the difference between hair shedding vs. hair loss once and for all. Shedding is not the same as hair loss. Shedding is a part of the hair growth cycle, and shedding 50-100 strands a day is normal. Hair loss, on the other hand, indicates something preventing your strands from growing as they normally do.
How Do You Know If It’s Hair Loss or Not?
Dr. Ingleton: Look at the hair strands that have fallen out. If you see a white bulb at the tip, you're losing hair from the root, and it could be hair loss. If there are no white bulbs, it's likely breakage, due to damage and weakness of the hair shaft.
Are Hair Loss and Alopecia the Same Thing?
Dr. Ingleton: Yes! Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. This refers specifically to when hair comes out from the roots, not including breakage.
Is Hair Loss Preventable?
Dr. Ingleton: Hair loss is preventable if the causes are due to lifestyle choices. Wearing looser hairstyles or taking periodic breaks from wigs and weaves can help in certain cases; however, if hair loss is due to genetic factors, it's typically out of your control.
How Can You Treat Hair Loss?
Dr. Ingleton: If we focus on traction hair loss, a more common form, we first must change our hairstyling habits like in the example above. For more stubborn forms of hair loss, there are other treatments that a dermatologist could recommend, such as nutritional supplements (like biotin or zinc), in-office procedures (like cortisone injections or Platelet Rich Plasma injections/PRP), and Minoxidil products, to help stimulate the hair to grow back.
What Activates the Hair Follicle?
Dr. Ingleton: Increased blood flow helps activate hair follicles, and that's partly how medicines like Minoxidil work. They increase blood flow, shorten the shedding phase, and push hair into the growth phase.
Goddess Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment
Our new Goddess Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment contains 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution, the #1 dermatologist-recommended treatment for hair regrowth, and is clinically proven to help regrow hair in 4 months! Its key active, 2% Minoxidil, treats hair loss by reactivating follicles, stimulating the growth of thicker, fuller strands. If you’re experiencing female hair loss, consider adding it to your routine along with products from our Goddess Strength system, formulated to moisturize and strengthen weak hair.
Does Scalp Health Impact the Effectiveness of Minoxidil for Hair Growth?
Dr. Ingleton: Yes, good scalp health will improve how effectively Minoxidil will affect hair growth. Cleansing the scalp at least weekly with a shampoo will help reduce buildup and allow better absorption of Minoxidil. Treating any other underlying scalp conditions like eczema or psoriasis will also improve how well your scalp tolerates Minoxidil.
Do Home Remedies Work?
Dr. Ingleton: Patients have reported having some success with things like oregano oil, rosemary, or mint, but the jury is still out. There haven't been many scientific studies to prove whether they're effective at treating hair loss.
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