Women hair loss can be reversed
Hair loss in women can often be reversed
Dear Nurse Patti,
I am 48 years old, and three years ago I had a total hysterectomy. I tried Premarin for about six months, but that didn't work out.
The past two months I've started losing a lot of hair. I've been tested for rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid problems – all OK. No anemia either. So – is it my age? The surgery? My stress level has been up a bit, and I do smoke occasionally. Can you give me any insight?
Wilma from Poughkeepsie
Dear Wilma,
It is estimated that more than 25 million women in this country suffer from female hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia is the hereditary form of baldness that affects 50 percent of men, and some women after 40.
The most common cause of hair loss in women, however, is a result of temporary metabolic problems associated with pregnancy, unusual stress, chemotherapy, crash diets and anorexia, thyroid hormone deficiency, lupus, diabetes, major surgery, severe infection or high fever. Certain medications also can cause it. These conditions are usually temporary and, once resolved, the hair stops shedding and healthy regrowth occurs.
Unlike men, women rarely become bald in the true sense, but many may experience significant thinning. This pattern often develops at around age 40 or with the onset of menopause. The reason for this is that estrogen levels decline.
Rogaine still remains the No. 1 treatment for hair loss in women.
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