Though the follicle is technically still alive and connected to a good blood supply--it can successfully nurture a transplanted follicle which is immune to the effects of DHT--it will grow smaller and smaller. Some follicles will gradually die, but most will simply shrink to the size they were when you were born which produce weaker hairs. With a steadily shorter growing cycle, more hairs are shed, the hairs becoming thinner and thinner until they are too fine to survive daily wear and tear. Balding hair gradually changes from long, thick, coarse, pigmented hair into fine sprouts.

Female pattern baldness usually begins about age 30, becomes noticeable around age 40, and may be even more noticeable after menopause. Female hairloss is usually an overall thinning -- two hairs where five used to be--rather than a bald area on top of the head, although women may have a receding hairline, too. It's estimated that about 20 million American women experience such hairloss. Hairloss in both men and women is again, partly genetic and partly hormonal.

Surgeries, severe illness, and emotional stress can cause hairloss. The body simply shuts down production of hair during periods of stress in order to devote its energies toward repairing vital body structures. In many cases there is a delay between the actual event and the onset of hairloss. Furthermore, there can be another long delay prior to the return of noticeable hair regrowth. This means that the total hairloss and regrowth cycle can last 6 months or possibly longer when induced by physical or emotional stress. There are some health conditions which may go undetected that can contribute to hairloss -- these include anemia or low blood count and thyroid abnormalities. Both of these conditions can be detected by a simple, inexpensive blood test.

Women may experience some noticeable hairloss in the wake of a major hormonal change. In most cases though, the condition does not become terribly advanced. Post pregnancy hormone conditions can be a cause of this type of hairloss as can discontinuation of birth control pills, menopause and menstrual cycles. In most cases though, the condition is temporary. Many women discover that their hair will grow back to its former luster within a year.

Hairloss may also occur due to dieting. Franchised diet programs which are designed or administered under the directions of a physician with prescribed meals, dietary supplements and vitamin ingestion have become very popular. Sometimes the client is told that vitamins are a necessary part of the program to prevent hairloss associated with dieting. From a dermatologist's standpoint, however, the vitamins cannot prevent hairloss associated with rapid, significant weight loss. Furthermore, many of these supplements are high in vitamin A which can magnify hairloss.

Women can choose between three accepted forms of treatment. First, you can apply topical lotions or take oral prescription drugs that have been licensed by the FDA. Second, you can decide to have a surgical hair replacement done. There are several surgical procedures to choose from and it is important to consult with a doctor before making a selection. The third option is to purchase a non-surgical hair replacement that covers or adds hair to the thinning portion(s) of her head.

Back to Freedom Hair Systems