Women may experience thinning of their hair for a number of reasons that range from hormonal changes during menopause to the overuse of styling products to vitamin deficiencies and medical conditions like an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). The Mayo Clinic says female pattern baldness is referred to as androgenetic alopecia. A number of options are available to treat thinning hair in women.
Hormone Treatments
Hormone-related hair loss during menopause may be reversed with hormonal treatments. Your doctor may prescribe low-dose androgen oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when insufficient estrogen levels are to blame for thinning hair. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks associated with HRT. The National Institutes of Health says HRT may increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer.
Corticosteroid Injections
Injections of cortisone into the scalp are sometimes used to treat androgenetic alopecia in women. The Mayo Clinic says new hair usually appears after a few weeks of treatment, but the injections must be repeated monthly. Your doctor may also prescribe corticosteroid creams and ointments, but they may not work as well as injections do. Possible side effects include injection site bruising and infection.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an FDA-approved over-the-counter medicine to treat female pattern baldness. Minoxidil can slow the thinning of hair in the majority of cases and actually stimulate hair growth up to 25 percent of the time, according to the Mayo Clinic. A 2 percent concentration is recommended for women. Minoxidil must be used regularly or hair regrowth will cease. If your scalp has not responded to this medication after six months of use, your doctor may suggest an alternative remedy for your thinning hair.
Anthralin
Anthralin (Dritho-Scalp) is a tarry, synthetic substance that is applied to your scalp daily and allowed to sit for for 30 to 60 minutes. Antrhalin comes in a cream, ointment or paste. When it works, new hair may appear in two to three months. However, anthralin can cause skin irritation and staining in the area of treatment. Anthralin is sometimes used in combination with minoxidil.
Hair Transplants
Hair transplants may also help treat thinning hair in women. They work by removing small plugs of hair from areas that are still actively growing and transplanting them to areas where hair loss has occurred. Several treatments are usually necessary, but the ultimate results can be very good. Side effects include minor scarring where the hair was removed; there is also risk of infection.
