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What To Expect From A Dermatologist?
The general norm for a dermatologist is to probe the patient’s medical history and habits. He/She might ask you about the kind of hair loss pattern in your parents to determine whether the loss is hereditary or not. Based on the information he/she will provide the prognosis and related treatment. A word of caution, permanent female pattern baldness is not curable. The loss is permanent. However, you can opt for surgical interventions to reduce the damage.
A dermatologist can also prescribe some medications to treat your hair loss which could include the topical application of the medication. If the hair loss is tied to the lifestyle you lead, he/she might suggest various changes in it.
Treatments For Hair Loss:
Treatments for hair loss in women are available in the form of medication, surgical or lifestyle changes such as:
- Medication – Not many medicines are available to directly treat hair loss in women. The doctors may address the causes of hair loss rather than treat the hair loss. The most commonly used medicine is Minoxidil which can be applied as a gel or foam topically on the scalp. It is reported to stimulate growth, though it should be used for a lifetime as discontinuance may lead to hair fall again. Doctors might treat the Androgenetic hair loss by using certain inhibitors like cimetidine, spironolactone or cyproterone acetate. They might also opt for hormonal balancing treatments using estrogen and progesterone pills. Doctors are also known to use oral contraceptive pills to varying degree and compositions to treat hair loss in women.
- Surgical Treatments – Scientific developments have made it possible to treat (not cure) permanent hair fall using surgical interventions such as hair transplants and scalp reduction. With a hair transplant the surgeon/dermatologist removes a healthy portion of skin containing hair follicles and transplants it surgically to the affected portion. The second option is to stretch the scalp over the affected area or folding over the portion over the bald spots. Surgical treatments are yet to be effective in women as the pattern of balding is different among them.
- Lifestyle Changes – Women are the first to bear the brunt of unhealthy lifestyles (though this is not the norm!). A diet poor in nutrition, disturbed sleep due to stress or illnesses, and a sedentary lifestyle are some culprits that contribute to hair loss to a certain extent. The way forward is to eat healthy, clock in sufficient and restful sleep, maintain the intake of liquids in sufficient amounts (8 -10 glasses of water daily) and burn that excessive fat or exercise to stay fit.
Myths Debunked:
In order to understand what hair loss entails it is also important to understand what does not cause hair loss. A Few myths related to hair loss are:
- Washing hair with shampoo more often causes hair loss.
- Brush 100 times for healthy hair
- Do not brush too often (this is in direct conflict with the previous myth!)
- Shave your mane for thicker growth
- Permanent balding is curable
Many women do damage their hair a lot, click here to see what damages your hair the most. Women must remember that a combination of a healthy living style and proper care go far in keeping the tresses in a healthy condition. At the same time some things cannot be avoided and hence a timely treatment can prevent further damage.
Rogaine for women
Most people think that Rogaine is just for men but Rogaine also has a product specifically designed for women. Check out my review of Rogaine for Women.