Inside Cosmetic Surgery Today - Female Hair Loss & Menopause

I was recently asked to return to WebTalk Radio's Inside Cosmetic Surgery today to discuss female hair loss and menopause with Dr. Barry Lycka. We discussed everything from risk factors and warning signs to treatment options and prevention tips. 

You can listen to the podcast, here. 

Key takeaways for women at risk for hair loss:

1. A woman’s chance of losing hair after menopause is almost just as high as it is for men at that age, but female pattern hair loss looks different.

2. It’s easy to miss the early warning signs of female pattern hair loss – but catching it early is key, as 50% loss can occur before it’s noticeable to the human eye. There are a number of effective treatments for female hair loss, but the best results occur when they’re started early on.

3. Hair loss around menopause is common due to changes in hormone levels and activity, but it cannot be commonly cured with hormone replacement alone.

4. Genetic predisposition, unusual levels of stress, hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, crash diets, medications, as well as a history of illness and surgery can also be contributing factors to female hair loss.

5.  Most women benefit from a combination of pharmaceutical and lifestyle changes in treating their hair loss and thinning.  Results are proportional to your level of discipline and compliance with the prescribed regimen.

6. Medical treatments to protect and enhance hair follicle functioning may include compounded topical minoxidil Formula 82M, platelet-rich plasma injections, Latisse/Bimatoprost or other prostaglandin analogs, low-level laser therapy, off-label anti-androgens (for post-menopausal women only) and nutritional supplements like Viviscal Professional and pharmaceutical grade biotin.

7. Routine diagnostic and tracking methods with scientific HairCam™ microscopic scalp analysis and HairCheck™ measurements are key to help you and your doctor determine how well your treatments are working and when to make changes to your regimen.

8. No-scalpel/No-stitch hair transplant harvesting techniques like NeoGraft FUE can restore density in severely depleted areas of scalp without the risks of scarring, discomfort, downtime and unnaturalness of old-style procedures.

If you have menopause-related hair loss concerns, contact a Hair Restoration Physician who can work with you to determine the most effective treatment regimen for your specific needs. Patients should look for doctor who is a full-time medical hair loss specialist who is certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Only a qualified and experienced hair restoration physician can perform natural-looking hair transplants and prescribe the most effective multi-therapy treatment options, including the latest available products.

Tomorrow: Live Miami Interview on Female Hair Loss

When it comes to hair loss, we hardly ever think of women - but did you know women are almost just as at risk as men? 

To learn more about female hair loss, including new treatment options for women, tune in tomorrow morning for my interview with Live Miami at 11am on NBC Miami. 

• More than half of all women over 40 experience hair loss 
• Women can inherit a ‘hair loss gene,’ just like men
• Hair loss occurs differently in women than in men - i.e., “thinning”
• It can be caused by hormonal changes, due to menopause and pregnancy along with age, medications, dieting, bad health, etc.
• There are special treatments for women: Rogaine For Women, vitamin supplements, micro-surgical hair transplants and even Latisse (the Brooke Shields eyelash drug)
• A new genetic test can predict a woman’s risk of hair loss

Maureen Nolan: My Hair Fell Out During Menopause

Everyone expects hot flashes and mood swings to occur during "the change," but did you know that many women also experience hair loss and thinning during and after this period? 

Maureen Nolan, of the 80s pop group The Nolans, was recently interviewed about her experience with hair loss during menopause. 

‘I felt depressed. I was getting old and now my hair, which had been thick and shiny, was thinning and falling out,’ she told the reporter. While the experience of hair loss can be traumatic for women, it is quite common, especially during menopause. More than 40 percent of women experience hair loss and thinning during menopause, some more severe others. 

Loss of both progesterone and estrogen, and increases in testosterone during menopause is thought to cause hair loss.  

While hair loss during menopause can be part of the process, it is always good to see a doctor if you are experiencing hair loss or thinning as they can be a symptom of other health problems. 

There are many treatment options tailored for women - but early detection is key for optimal results, so if you have questions or concerns, don't wait to call a hair restoration physician.