Hair Loss in Women

Hair Loss in Women

DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY

• Increased hair loss not diagnosed as alopecia.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Physiology of the Hair Cycle

There are 100,000 to 350,000 hair follicles on the human scalp that go through cyclical phases of growth and rest:

• Growth (anagen) phase: active genetic expression of protein synthesis

• Resting stage

• Migratory phase: hair bulb migrates outward and is sloughed. Stage is set for new hair to fill remaining papilla after old hair is lost.

Age, pathology, and nutritional and hormonal factors influence duration of hair cycle. Hair loss is a normal part of aging. Hair growth slows by age 40 years. Speed of replacing old hairs declines. The issue is more apparent in men because of the effects of androgens.

Therapeutic Considerations

Causes of Hair Loss in Women

• Androgenic female pattern hair loss

• Side effect of drug

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Hypothyroidism

• Antigliadin antibodies

Androgenic Female Pattern Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss (diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia) is more diffuse than male pattern, affecting 30% of women before age 50 years. Factors include genetics, androgen excess, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, low antioxidant status (i.e., reduced glutathione).

Recommendations:

• Improve blood glucose regulation through dietary, lifestyle, and supplementary measures (see the chapter on diabetes mellitus)

• Increase antioxidant intake

• Saw palmetto extract

• Hormone replacement therapy

Reactive oxygen species (and testosterone) contribute to male pattern baldness and are found at higher levels in hair follicles of men (and presumably women) with this condition as a result of lower glutathione. Vitamins C and E help preserve glutathione.

Recommendations:

• Vitamin C: 1000 to 1500 mg q.d. in divided doses

• Vitamin E: 400 IU q.d. (mixed tocopherols)

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Related

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Tags: The Clinicians Handbook of Natural Medicine

Apr 3, 2017 | Posted by admin in GENERAL & FAMILY MEDICINE | Comments Off

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access