Loss of hair can be extremely agonizing for a lady. It can be because of various causes.
According to expert doctors and dermatologists, stress is an acute factor that results in hair loss in women. Hormonal imbalances lead to hair thinning or what is known as patterned baldness.
Cicatricial alopecia, also called scarring alopecia refers to certain abnormalities in the scalp that destruct hair follicles. The distressed follicles are substituted by scar tissues resulting in permanent hair loss. Over the years, Cicatricial alopecia has noticed amidst women who are totally healthy. However, the propensity is more amidst African women and can be treated by surgical hair transplant where the hair follicles are transferred from the “donor site” to “recipient side”. Thus, any woman suffering from Cicatricial alopecia can not only get back her lost hair but also her lost self-confidence and vigour. Cicatricial alopecia is usually asymptomatic, however, some patients havesharp pains, burning and itching sensations.
This has been especially noticed in women who work in extremely stressful conditions and need to bring down their levels of stress. Cicatricial alopecia results in a gradual hair loss and in most cases has no visible sign. However, in some women there are symptoms of sharp pains, burning and itching sensations.
Medical Procedures for Hair Loss In Women
Apart from standard hair vitamins, especially Biotin, iron plays a significant role in restoring hair and preventing hair loss in women. A lot of minoxidil prepearations are there in the market, and a 2% or 5 % is best suited for women.
The latest Platet Rich Plasma treatment is showing lots of promising results in hair restoration in women.
Hair mesotherapy with stem cells is also good when combined with other techniques.
Women who qualify for surgical hair transplants
Women with patterned baldness are the best candidates for hair transplant. Also, a few with hormonal thinning also benefit. But, according to medical experts, there is a very small group of women patients of cicatricial alopecia who are apt to go in for a hair transplant surgery. Approximately, 2% to 5% women are said to benefit from this process. They are:-
- Women candidates having affected by hair loss from traction or mechanical alopecia, which is non-hormonal in nature.
- Women who have experienced plastic or cosmetic surgery and are affected by hair loss in and around the incision areas.
- Women having a certain pattern of baldness that is similar to male pattern baldness. This comprises of vertex thinning, hairline recession and a donor area that does not suffer from androgenetic alopecia.
- Women patients in whom hair loss have been a result of trauma, scarring from accidents, chemical burns and the like.
- Women having alopecia marginalis that is a condition very similar to that of traction alopecia.
Important facts to consider whilst treating female hair loss
In case of men, the donor sites are known as stable sites as the follicles and hair in that area are not impacted by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which contracts the follicles in the head in other areas. This is the case with the ones suffering from androgenetic alopecia. However, in case of female hair loss pattern, the donor sites are generally unstable. They are thinning, similar to other areas and the donor areas are affected by the follicle contracting DHT. If the hair and the related follicle is removed from these donor zones and is transplanted in other areas, it is likely to fall out. Hence, it is essential to keep in mind that any surgeon who is doing the surgical hair transplant from an unstable donor site is not well trained and updated about the job.
In terms of medical expense, every surgical hair transplant is calculated to be within an approximate range of $3,000 to $15,000. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, this is determined by the intricacy and amount of grafts.
