Female Pattern Hair Loss: It's Not Just Stress
Female Pattern Hair Loss: It’s Not Just Stress
Topic: Hair health
Losing hair is emotionally devastating for women. Doctors often dismiss it as “stress.” But hair is a high-energy tissue. If it is falling out, the body is cutting power to non-essential systems.
Type 1: Telogen Effluvium (The Shed)
- Pattern: Diffuse shedding all over. Clumps in the shower.
- Cause: A “shock” event 3 months ago (Covid, childbirth, high fever, crash diet, breakup).
- Prognosis: usually grows back on its own once the stressor passes.
Type 2: Androgenic Alopecia (The Thinning)
- Pattern: Widening of the partition. Receding temples. The actual hair strand gets thinner (miniaturization).
- Cause: DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). This is the “PCOS Pattern.” High androgens shrink the hair follicle.
- Prognosis: Progressive. Needs treatment to stop.
The Lab Checklist
Before buying expensive shampoos, check these:
- Ferritin: Needs to be > 70 for hair regrowth.
- Vitamin D: Needs to be > 50.
- TSH: Thyroid slows down follicle turnover.
- DHEAS/Testosterone: To rule out Androgenic causes.
Treatment Options
- Minoxidil (Rogaine): FDA approved. Increases blood flow to the scalp. (Warning: Commitment for life. If you stop, you lose the growth).
- Rosemary Oil: Some studies show it is as effective as 2% Minoxidil, without the chemical side effects.
- PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma): Injecting your own growth factors into the scalp. Expensive but effective for many.
Your hair is the last thing your body cares about saving. To grow it, you must be in a state of abundance.