How to Help Bald Patches in Women
Significant hair loss in women and men is called alopecia; two disparate types of alopecia are most often responsible for bald spots in women. "Hair Loss Talk" contributors explain that alopecia areata denotes rapid onset hair loss in patches on your scalp. Causes are diverse, ranging from stress to the hair follicles in dying or braiding to the growth of a ringworm fungal infection on the scalp. According to MSNBC Health, causes can also include more serious conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), hypothyroidism, hypertension and heart problems. A bald spot on your crown that resembles male pattern baldness is a genetic condition called androgenetic alopecia.
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Instructions
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Apply 1 milliliter of Minoxidil to your dry scalp in the morning and at night using the applicator that comes with your medication. Spread it evenly over your balding patches and do not rinse. Avoid getting your scalp wet for four hours after each application for best growth results. Minoxidil 2% is the only FDA-approved treatment for female pattern baldness. It may help you to attain considerable regrowth, but discontinuing the lotion will result in more hair loss.
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Use shampoos and conditioners recommended by your hair stylist or salon. Store-bought shampoos and conditioners contain waxes that strip your hair and can cause it to fall out.
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Wash your hair only every other day. Allow your hair to dry naturally and with minimal styling. This decreases chances for hair to fall out.
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Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes plenty of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Malnutrition is a common cause of female hair loss.
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Check for food intolerance. Each week, eliminate one common food from your diet. Dairy is a common irritant and a good food to eliminate first. If you notice your hair loss stops or diminishes when you eliminate a food, you may now know the cause of your hair loss.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply Minoxidil on your scalp without leaving it to absorb into other parts of your body. This lotion can cause hair growth anywhere on your body. Do not use Minoxidil 5%; it will cause unwanted hair growth on your body and is not recommended for use by women.
If you have a heart condition or low blood pressure, seek the advice of a doctor before using Minoxidil. It causes complications and worsening symptoms in a small percentage of patients with these health concerns. Obtain a doctor's assurance that the product is safe for you before you use it.
If your hair loss is the result of ringworm on your scalp, you should not use Minoxidil. It can irritate the fungal infection and make it worse.
Try shopping around for hair stylists who have experience creating hair styles that complement women with thinning hair. Before scheduling a hair cut, speak to several possible stylists over the phone. Ask about their experience with your problem, and request a haircut that diminishes the appearance of hair loss.
If you recently experienced physical changes such as pregnancy or weight loss, your hair will probably grow back with minimal intervention within a few months.
Hair loss in women can be a sign of a serious medical condition. You should see your doctor if you begin to have a problem; she can conduct tests to rule out possible illnesses. She can also tell you whether or not any of your medications could cause the hair loss and advise you how to discontinue problematic medications. Your doctor can also test you for food allergies that can cause hair loss. Be patient with the diagnostic process. Medical testing takes time, and diseases like SLE are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Recognize the process of diagnosis could take months or even years.
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