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The Treatment for Hair Loss in Women

Although most people consider hair loss and baldness to be a male problem, it can affect women, too. This is particularly true right after pregnancy, although it can happen at other times because of hormonal triggers. It can also be a consequence of the aging process. Fortunately, there are a number of hair loss treatments for women to consider. They range from hormones to medications to a topical solution. Even though they are not all approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hair loss in women, their effectiveness and safety have been shown.

  1. Minoxidil

    • Minoxidil is a drug that was originally used to treat high blood pressure. Some patients experienced excess hair growth while taking it to control their hypertension. Now it is sold as a topical treatment to regrow lost hair. The American Hair Loss Association says that Minoxidil is more effective for women than for men in stimulating hair growth. The makers of this treatment recommend that women use the 2 percent concentration because the Food and Drug Administration has not approved use of the 5 percent version for females. However, limited studies have shown that the 5 percent solution may be more effective, so some women use it under professional supervision.

    Cimetidine

    • Cimetidine, a histimine blocker sold as the brand-name product Tagamet, is primarily a treatment for gastrointestinal ulcers. However, the American Hair Loss Association says that preliminary data show it might be effective at promoting women's hair growth. It is not approved for this use, and it must be taken in high doses to achieve the desired effect. It is only recommended for women because it can cause unwanted sexual side effects in men due to the high dosage level.

    Estrogen/Progesterone

    • When a woman's hair loss is related to hormonal issues, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using estrogen and progesterone pills or cream can stop the problem. HRT is typically used for women who have gone through menopause or those whose hormone levels are lacking, causing hair loss and other unwanted effects.

    Birth Control Pills

    • Birth control pills decrease a women's ovarian androgen production, which can stop unwanted hair loss. However, these pills are not specifically approved by the FDA as a hair loss treatment, and if they are used for that purpose, it must be done with the same precautions that are followed when the pills are used to prevent pregnancy. This means that smokers and women over age 35 must weigh the risk-to-benefit ratio. Some formulations are more effective at treating hair loss than others. The American Hair Loss Association says that low androgen index birth control pills are the only type that should be used as a hair loss treatment. It warns that high androgen index birth control pills can actually cause hair loss rather than prevent it.

    Propecia/Proscar

    • Although Propercia and Proscar are primarily medications to treat prostate problems, they can also treat hair loss in both men and women. Currently they are approved by the FDA only to treat hair loss in men, but the American Hair Loss Association says that it may stop hair loss and stimulate new growth in women, too. It is generally considered safe for women as long as they are not pregnant because it can trigger birth defects if the baby is a boy.

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