Female pattern hair loss is more prevalent than we assume. The condition of female pattern hair loss arises from an underlying cause. Often the source is a result of a hormonal imbalance. Polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, and thyroid disease all cause hair loss in women.
How androgenic alopecia occurs
As mentioned above, conditions that create hormonal imbalance often cause hair loss. With higher androgen production, the result is often hair loss accompanied by acne or other symptoms. Follicular units become sensitive to the higher concentrations of androgens. Over time, the follicular units react to the increased levels of DHT and prematurely close.
Why hair transplants do not work for female androgenic alopecia
Hair transplants require a stable donor region from which follicular units will be extracted and relocated to areas of hair loss. In men, androgenic alopecia takes on a steady pattern, giving doctors the ability to predict stable regions. Female pattern hair loss, unfortunately, is diffuse. In other words, it is difficult to predict a pattern or locate stable donor regions. As a result, women with androgenic alopecia do not make for suitable candidates for hair transplant.
Alternative solutions
Serums like monoxide can treat female pattern hair loss. However, the medication causes a few side effects such as increased body hair and rash. In addition, the serum has to be applied daily in order to prove useful. Otherwise, with inconsistency in application, the medication cannot work. Another treatment known as finasteride is also able to treat female pattern hair loss. The pill has to be as well taken daily and causes side effects such as depression.
It almost seems that any medication that could treat female pattern hair loss causes side effects and is difficult to commit to. But that is not true for PRP therapy, a recent treatment for female pattern hair loss.
PRP therapy
PRP therapy is short for platelet-rich plasma and is a recent treatment for androgenic alopecia. The treatment work by withdrawing blood from patients in the standard way. Once the blood is collected, it is later centrifuged to achieve platelet-rich plasma. It is seen that in conditions like androgenic alopecia, specific growth factors such as VE growth factor decrease. PRP happens to be a reservoir of growth factors including VE growth factor.
Once the extract is achieved, it is later injected into the scalp. The boost of growth factors initiates growth. To make things clear, factors refer to proteins that bind to the outer layer of cells and stimulate a pathway of signals leading to increased proliferation and growth.
The treatment is divided into monthly sessions where a patient might need anywhere from one to eight sessions depending on the degree of hair loss. Unlike other therapies, PRP does not cause any side effects seeing as it utilizes the person’s own cells to stop hair loss. Find out in vera clinic more information about PRP therapy
In summary
Female hair loss is a common phenomenon that arises from hormonal imbalances. Female androgenic alopecia does not follow a particular pattern and is more diffuse. As a result, hair transplants do not work as a treatment option.
While alternative medications such as monoxide and finasteride exist, they both trigger the onset of inconvenient side effects. On the other hand, PRP uses the patient’s own cells to stimulate growth and hinder hair loss. As a result, the treatment does not have any side effects. Moreover, it is divided into monthly sessions and unlike finasteride and monoxide does not have to be taken daily,
