Treatment for Alopecia in Women

The effects of alopecia can be devastating for a woman. According to the American Hair Loss Association, almost 40 percent of the American population who complain about hair loss are women. There are different kinds of alopecia, but the most common is Androgenetic alopecia. There is effective treatment, but dealing with the psychological effects can be more challenging.

Diagnosis

• Doctors can order blood work, which includes checking hormone levels, thyroid function and complete blood count in order to determine the cause of the hair loss problem. A scalp biopsy and hair pull test might also be done.

Most Effective Treatment

• Minoxidil is the most effective treatment for alopecia. The minoxidil is topically administered to the scalp.

Time Frame

• Treatment with minoxidil can take up to eight months for complete regrowth of hair. Severity of the individual's hair loss and regrowth time varies among sufferers.

Side Effects of Minoxidil

• The most common side effect of minoxidil is the growth of facial hair. Sometimes this is due to the minoxidil getting on the pillowcase during sleep and being absorbed by the face.

Other Options

• To help reduce the psychological effects of hair loss, a woman can wear a wig while going through treatment for hair loss. The use of scarves can also help with the self-esteem issues that plague hair-loss sufferers.