As we age, our bodies start to experience changes that at times, could make us feel like we aren’t ourselves anymore. From deeper smile lines, to the extra aches and pains, to changes to our scalp… These are all very common changes.
When it comes to your scalp and hairline specifically, you may notice an increasing amount of shedding, which is quite common as we age. However, for some women, the increase in shedding leads to what is known as female pattern baldness.
What is female pattern hair loss?
Female pattern baldness (hair loss) is a common condition that affects 40% of women over the age of 50. It has a genetic predisposition that increases the average shedding of hair and results in pattern hair loss.
It differs from other types of hair loss like alopecia, as the hair loss is less sporadic in location and follows a pattern. In most cases, female pattern hair loss presents itself through an increased divide at the part.
How is female pattern baldness treated?
If you are struggling with this very common condition and are seeking treatment, here are the 3 most effective treatments for female pattern hair loss.
1. Topical Medication
Topical medication is one of the most common treatments for female pattern hair loss in Canada, as it is both effective and cost-conscious.
The most popular topical medication is Minoxidil, which comes in a 5% topical solution, however, skin care physician Dr. Shehla Ebrahim also prescribed a unique topical formula containing a combination of different proprietary compounds that can stimulate hair growth.
2. Oral medication
Oral medication is also a popular treatment for female pattern hair loss. Two popular oral medications are spironolactone and Oral Finasteride. While spironolactone is commonly prescribed to treat hair fall, Oral Finasteride is commonly prescribed to slow down hair fall.
3. PRP (Platelet-rich plasma therapy)
Platelet-rich plasma therapy commonly known as PRP, is an effective treatment for hair loss that uses a patient’s blood to improve hair growth. Through this process, hair growth is stimulated by stem cells in the hair follicles, which aid to induce the proliferative anagen phase, the first phase of hair growth which is also known as the active phase.
To do so, blood is drawn from a patient’s arm, circulated in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma, and red blood cells. Once this 10-minute centrifuge process is complete, the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp to promote hair growth.
To read more about PRP click here
Where to seek treatment
If you are in the Vancouver area and seeking treatment for female pattern baldness, we encourage you to book a consultation with Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, so she can create a treatment plan to restore your hair.
For timeliness and ease, Dr. Shehla Ebrahim offers online consultations for her patients. Click HERE to book your consultation today!