For women, the hair is an asset. Nevertheless, about a third of women have suffered from alopecia and female hair loss at one point in their lives. For women who have reached menopause, the numbers are higher.
While more men are willing to live with hair loss, women cannot come to terms with living with alopecia because of the existing social standards in most parts of the world today.
The mistake most women make when alopecia sets in are that they sometimes jump on the first female hair treatment solution they find, without reading proper reviews and experiences from other people who have suffered from alopecia.
While several treatments for female hair loss exist, I want to call your attention to a few solutions that have stood the test of time, they include:
Minoxidil
At first, Minoxidil was introduced as a measure to control high blood pressure. Fortunately, people who took the drug noticed it was helping them regrow their hair in places that had suffered severe amounts of hair loss. Consequently, the FDA approved minoxidil as an over-the-counter treatment for female hair loss, and the drug has proven itself over time.
The Miracle Behind Minoxidil
While a lot of people see minoxidil’s effectiveness as a miracle, experts have carried out numerous researches to understand how the medication works. Minoxidil introduces average amounts of nutrients that energize the follicles as blood transports the nutrients towards the scalp region.
Side Effects Of Minoxidil
While minoxidil does a good job, it can have very unpleasant side effects which can sometimes cause a panic. Some of the side effects include reddening of the scalp, severe hair loss during the initial stages of treatment, headaches, nausea, and many more.
Price Review Of Minoxidil
Minoxidil can be purchased over the counter at an average price of $23 to $35. It is important to only purchase the drug from verified sources to avoid buying knock-offs.
Anti-Androgens
Androgens are notorious because of their numerous constituents such as testosterone and various other types of male hormones. While these hormones can be helpful to the body, excessive amounts that are present in women who have reached menopause can become hostile to the hair follicles.
For females whose hormones do not respond to minoxidil, the use of anti-androgen drugs such as Aldactone can serve as an adequate cure for Alopecia.
Side Effects of Anti-Androgens
Anti-Androgens can be a saving grace, but women who are pregnant are discouraged from taking the drug because of its ability to cause massive hormonal distortion. Other side effects of the drug include massive weight gain, a loss of sexual appetite, recurrent fatigue, and depression.
Price of Aldactone
Aldactone is an over-the-counter drug that can also be referred to as Spironolactone. With $275, you will be able to get 100 pieces of 25mg tablets.
Iron Supplements
Low levels of iron have also been linked to female hair loss. This condition is mostly present in women who are vegetarians or have a recurring history of anemia.
Women who suffer from hair loss due to low iron levels are encouraged to take iron supplements to increase their blood iron levels.
There are no side effects for normal levels of iron supplements, but in cases when the iron levels in the blood are very high, the female may experience constipation.
Laser Treatments
While laser treatments are an unpopular approach towards tackling alopecia for females, the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology made a case in favor of the hair loss treatment method during a research in 2014. According to the study, Low-Level Laser Treatments are reliable and non-invasive options for women to explore in their quest to defeat alopecia. At the moment, there are no serious side effects associated with laser treatments.
While we understand that most females want to see swift results, it is important to understand the need for patience when you start your treatment process. Results may take a while to show up, but one thing is certain! The desired results will come.
What treatments have you tried? Did you find them effective? Let us know in the comments!