Treatment Of Hair Loss In Women Part 1
- Posted on 11 January, 2020
- Hair Knowledge
- By Anonymous
In this episode, we continue our discussion about hair loss in women. We specifically look at treatment options for treating female pattern hair loss.We discuss the use of topical and oral minoxidil and where this fits in in the whole ecosystem of hair loss treatments.
Welcome to the hair loss show where two of Australia's leading hair restoration, surgeons, dr. Russell Knudsen and dr. Vikram Jaya, Prakash, discuss issues relating to hair loss and the medical and surgical treatment of hair loss in both men and women hi. Everyone welcome to the hair loss. Show my name is dr.: Vikram Jaya Prakash, I'm dr. Russel Knutson, welcome to episode 21, and this is part of our hair loss and women's series and we've hopefully followed us so far. We'Ve we've introduced hair like the concept of hair loss and hair shedding in women, and then we sort of unpacked female pattern, hair loss, and we talked about the causes, the genetics and the the hormonal causes. But now what we thought we'd do is we will start talking about. I don't want to say treatment as much as management of this, because we can never fully treat female pattern hair loss because once a hair in a similar sort of issue with men once the hair is gone, it's it's gone, you're trying to stabilize that and that's What we're trying to do with therapy be medical or non-medical therapy we're trying to stabilize the hair loss so today, what we're going to talk about is stimulation therapy. Okay, so first thing we can't cure it. Okay, so if people come in thinking, they can take something for three months or six months solve the problem and never have a problem again and we get that lower e they'll get asked that all the time. I'M sorry, that's not possible and we understand why you're asking but sure you're hoping that you'd ever say you can deal with it and then give that haven't done with it, but we can't cure it. Therefore, we can only manage it, and so I say to my patients, if you like having high blood pressure or arthritis, nobody can cure these things. All we can do is manage them and if you're unlucky enough to be in that category of getting the problem, then early treatment is essential because, as Vikram said, we're much better at preventing hair loss than we are in regrowing here in women. Who'Ve lost a lot of hair now. Luckily, women tend to panic about this pretty early on. So we do see a lot of women come to us and early in the condition which is important, because once we've made the diagnosis which we talked about by doing blood tests as well as clinical examination, once we've made the diagnosis, then it becomes about management and The single most probably important thing we're going to treat all of our women with is a stimulation. That'S right and what we mean by stimulation therapy is we're going to apply some technology to the hairs that says, work harder, grow thicker grow longer, stick around longer. Okay, that's the that's the the goal here, so it still means you can have shared here. That'S right! You'Ve still got here, because every hair in your head has to shed the idea is to get them as healthy as possible. So we in our last episode. We talked about the causes of female plant hair loss, we talked about genes and we talked about the hormonal causes now and we said that treatment or management is targeted that, but this particular stimulation therapy doesn't okay, we're aware of that. What we're trying to do we're not we're not affecting hormonal levels or doing anything of that. So what we're trying to do is just you know, get a whip out and whip the hair into an icon, make them stay strong and long as long as is possible under the circumstances. So if we're going to talk about our stimulation therapies, the two principle ones we use are we'll start off with minoxidil, which of course, we've talked about with men before this is a can be provided as a lotion which you can buy over the counter. At your chemist by the way it comes in two strengths: 5 percent and 2 percent. The five percent works quicker than the two percent, the women's one. That says, you know the four percent, so you know if, if you see it in a pink box, it just means they marketed in a pink box you, if they don't have any pink boxes, left with the five percent them and actually by the blue one. As far as if most pharmacies just I mean I find people go around looking for the for the pink water, you know just use the just using the nice, no difference the color of the tackling makes no difference to it. So I'm getting kinda controversial and tell you that what's written on the box is wrong: the topical 5 % minoxidil last 21 hours in the skin and so Vikram, and I only recommend people to once a day and that's perfectly reasonable. Now it comes in two versions: it comes in a lotion which has a kind of a slight degree. Zhi er, you know, feel to it, which some women don't like, because it mocks up their hairstyling color. It comes in a foam which is less greasy and again some women, don't like it necessarily because it still interferes with their styling options. But this form is a lot easier to illustrate it's easier to use an electrolyte and it also absorbs faster. So the foam absorbs in ten minutes the the solution lotion takes 60 to 90 minutes. So there's a difference there as well so and the other thing just as a practical point, if you, if you're using this applying it to the hair, makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. It needs to be applied to the scalp. The hair, as we talked about before, is actually dead. The actual bit of the hair, that's outside the skin, is actually just like rope, so actually applying any. You know minoxidil, for example, to it is not going to stimulate that hair. What you need to do is apply it to the scalp, so if you're using either the the liquid or the foam which everyone, but the foam is a lot easier to handle squeeze a little bit into their cap. We just get use your finger or a cotton bud and just apply it on the area or it gets on the skin. Yes, so these are available. Over-The-Counter. Add a chemist, okay. So it's a chemist line. It'S not very expensive. If you can use the generic versions, you can use the official versions. That makes not a little bit of difference at all. So that's the way a lot of people use it for the women that are having trouble using it like that. We sometimes will go back to prescribing in an oral form. Okay, so the third way we give minoxidil out these days is in oral form. Now it's if we do it in a capsule, because there is no tablet really that has the right dose in it. For women there is a tablet out there, but you want to cut it down into at least quarters, if not fifths, which is really technically demanding. So, under the circumstances, if you're going to use oral minoxidil and save yourself, the hassle of applying it to the scalp, you can get it compounded at a compounding pharmacy and they'll make it up into the dose. And so we use five set in the solution in women. We tend to use between about a half a milligram to one milligram of minoxidil per day once a day as a capsule. So - and you know that is very, very helpful. The sooner you start that the better off you're going to be the main improvement in using minoxidil, is in the shaft diameter. That'S right! The numbers go up a little bit. It'S the shaft diameter. If you've got hairs there, you want them to be thicker hairs and that's that's the best way we get emotional with. So your two points I want to add to that as well. I think the first thing is: we had a lot of patients, we sweet. We talked them through this just like this and they start on minoxidil and they come back and go. I hate it. I love you know it made my hair loss worse and that's actually true, and you must be aware of that, because what it's doing is stimulating the hair to grow and part of that stimulation process may be injecting that existing hair. That'S coming towards the end of its cycle and a new hair coming back in its place, but as the user, what you see is, oh, my god, I'm shedding more hair. This Minako is making things worse. Therefore, it's making me lose her. Therefore, I'm going to stop it and in those scenarios you're getting more of the negative effects and you're not hanging around for the good effects which are going to happen three months down the track. So you have to persevere and we do want our patients that there is initial phase where they may notice a little bit of extra shedding right, so typically happens four to six weeks after you start the medicine and at any last four to six weeks. So if you can steel yourself to get through that phase, I'll think of it as good hairs, pushing out all week, hairs and so temporary phase that lasts about six weeks and don't panic and don't stop all right. The really important thing is to do it now. If you are going to stop after six or 12 months, because you then other it's working, that's fine, because if you stop and then you go, oh, my goodness, four to six weeks later, I've got some increased shedding. That tells you it worked! Yes, okay! So it's quite acceptable to stop and we sometimes ask our patients to stop to see if it's glad to see to see if it's making it, because if you stop it and not much changes, maybe it wasn't doing much for you. But we do think that in terms of women that we can increase their hair, shaft diameters and their numbers, it's about a 50/50 play that is using it topically and that we can get improvement. Isn'T so that's true with both the topical version and the oral version. So some people ask which is better than it it's which one you will take. You know which you got a better compliance for. I think I will say about the oral tablet as well. It has a more systemic effect, so you may notice hair stimulation everywhere and why we use a low dose. That'S probably mines that rate, but you've got to be aware that that's the case, whereas with the topical version it's going to act exactly where you've applied it. So that's something to be mindful of in our next episode: we're going to talk about laser therapy so that you can understand another way to do stimulation and doesn't involve chemicals if you've enjoyed today. Please give us a like or subscribe to the channel and we look forward to seeing you next time we will discuss laser therapy. See you next time, Thanks.
Comments
Azerty: “Luckily, women take care of the issue early. Early treatment is essential”....: when 99.99% of health care providers don’t take you seriously and could care less about hair loss at its very early stage. Try to seek help about hair loss when you show up at a doctor’s office with a head full of hair. Good luck.
Amy Trumbull: I had good results with the 5 percent foam but stopped after abou a year and a half and now, after a few months being off it I'm loosing a ton of hair so I'm going to get back on it today! Best of luck ladies. Minoxidil is kind of a drag in a couple ways but I can testify that it worked great for both me and my seventy five year old mom. Cheers
V C: I’m new to this channel. I’m a “healthy” 30 y/o women. I recently had some blood work done and everything is fine but I’m currently loosing excessive amount of hair. It might be due to stress(work). I also lost around 115 pound(I saw this could be a cause for hair loss in another of your videos)....Have you done any video for this type of hair loss? How can I treat this? The thought of hair loss is probably giving me more stress than my job.
Vidhya Vidhya: Hii doctors, wonderful guidance! I would like to know if minoxidil could be used for treating hair loss that's lost due to illness? Or should just vitamin tablets be taken?I also want to know whether minoxidil always causes alarming shedding?
maddie8415: What do you think of the 2% solution twice a day? I tried the 5% (solution) and had a very dramatic increase in body and facial hair. On the 2% I don't at all have that problem, which is not surprising because in the US for the solution version the women's is 2%. Is it still helpful? I was diagnosed with iron deficiency, by the way, ferratin being 12 and have been supplementing that for several months. The shedding has gone down to half of what it was, do you think that's a normal response? It seems to be kind of slow to me. Thank you so much! Great videos!
Jason H.: Thank you guys so much for what you’re doing. Do you mind sharing your thoughts about dermarolling?
Helium Hunter: Your video’s are great, could you discuss PRP therapy and if its a good option?
Omega13: Thank you gentlemen for the informative video you created for us women! I use the men's 5% Minoxidil PG liquid. For me this is easier for me because the pipette helps deliver the product to the scalp with more precision. I didn't know that it was available in an oral form. Is there a risk to the liver and/or kidneys since it's systemic and goes through the gut? Do you recommend spironolactone to increase efficacy?
Ariana Valles: Great work guys! I have a question.... Does minoxidil cause wrinkles because it messes with collagen and does it cause dark circles ? I'm really concerned about this... Thank you!:)
K H: Then there is this : I have a tendency to lose hair now more since I lost a child five years ago . Trauma . So when I have stress now I shed etc .. I had covid staring early July , no respiratory etc and hospital but REAL sick for about three weeks , bad stuff was two weeks . Then early September tons of hair loss and it’s still going as of October 5. I had been on good hair vitamins and MINOXIDIL for over a year but it’s possible it made my hair fall even more with the illness ? Hair that was slated to fall had not … until it did . My hair grows very fast so maybe coming out fast , but for how long ?? Anybody have any insight on this . Very depressing for sure .
Cristina D'Riviera: PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT MINOX SIDE EFFECTS! So many report bad skin, faintness /dizziness . Come on guys , please address this! It happened to me - I just wish there was a way to mitigate these effects.
Susan Goodrich Lerner: At age 67, have short hair with diffuse hair loss. For at least a year, I have used the men's 5% foam once a day or once every two days. I spread it in my hands and rub it all over my scalp. Of course, I don't see any hair growth; however, the hair loss has been greatly reduced. My understanding is that you have to use it forever since your hair will revert to its usual amount of loss if you stop.
Amna Farhan: Sir I used Rogaine for women and just after the using it 2 consecutive days once per day I got edema/ swelling around my eyes and on cheeks. And that swelling condition got better in one week. I tried putting review on their website but they removed my review.
David Ha: my mother is experiencing hair loss. She's middle aged and is going through menopause. She's in her 50s also has low blood pressure. Would finasteride be a good prescription to ask for?
Louis Saha: Very informative video, but can you guys please do a video on topical finasteride and topical dutasteride please !!
yes yes yo: Can you use minoxidil and dermarolling in telogen effluvium?
indu pramod: I have this hair loss issue specially at the crown since a few years now and this balding issue is hereditary. In such a case can I start using minoxidil without prior consultation and in that case should I use the 2% or 5 % for women
Rhalou: Very good point using the term “ systemic”. What i think you should have warned people is that, using a systemic/ an oral version of minoxidil means that is will be metabolized in the liver, so that is a risk that people should be aware of. Am i right? Have a wonderful week-end... from Romania, Europe.
Caitriona Lambert: I've been thinning on my crown since I had the Mirena coil inserted. No doctor would listen to me and said the coil wasn't causing it. After 5 years my hair was so thin, I had the coil removed and the amount of hair I was losing cut in half. It's now 8 years and it's still thin, it never recovered! I'm 39 and will be hitting menopause soon, am I going to thin even more? Will I be bald? Will rogaine work for me?
Damanvir Shergill: Will finasteride affect fitness in anyway like the cardiovascular system or skeletal muscle?
Saili Pandit: Hello doctor, What dosage of finasteride do you prescribe to your female patients in the start. My doctor just started me with 1mg of finasteride every day, but I read that higher doses like 2.5 / 5 mg are required in women. Please let me know
Alaya St. Hill: Hello and thanks for a great series! Can you recommend any LLLT devices?
Grim Reaper: Hey, I was wondering if you folks could shed some light on the Exosome based hair loss therapy which appears to be the new hot topic these days?? Thanks in advance.
Aditi Godbole: I develop allergic reaction to both 5% and 2% minoxidil. With swollen earns, forehead n eyes. Is there some other form of treatment for me. I have female pattern hair loss with hypothyroidism.
chaitra mhetre: Does topical minoxidil also show results in hairfall with dandruff in women ??
Sorala Silber: What’s a good shampoo and conditioner for hair loss oily hair sensitive scalp use daily
Dean Lumber: Can you make EFFECTIVE topical finasteride - without monoxidil - at home and how? (It's not available in the UK)
Elise Rolinson: Thank you guys you just saved me loads of time I know now not to go to gps
LittleGiant: Can you please give your opinion on micro-needling/dermarollers on hairgrowth for men.
spectre dabeast: i am sorry this question might be unrelated to the video,but i just want to ask ,what is the minimum safe age to start taking finasteride,i am 20m ,have been using minoxidil for the past 1 and half year,hairfall has reduced but there is still some hairfall and my hairline is quite thin,so i am planning on starting fin,although i dont want hinder my natural growth ,so can i satrt taking finasteride after i turn 21? should i have to wait longer?
Harshitha Yadav: I have been using redensyl for a month. Please provide some information about redensyl.
Angela: How much ml of 5% minoxidil should I use once a day?
N M: i suffer from female pattern hair loss but i have had every blood test that you mentioned in the previous video and nothing has came up as abnormal. my hormones are fine, my iron is fine, everything is normal. so maybe its genetics but i think it's just me and my sister as my mum and dads side of the family, the women have full heads of hair. with that in mine, would that mean these treatments help me? the doctors have not been able to help me and i've been left to my own devises. i have been to a dermatologist who confirmed i have female pattern hair loss/androgenic alopecia and he wasn't able to help me, he referred me to the hair specialist which hasn't happened yet due to coronavirus - what do you think in your humble opinion is the best thing for me to do? thank you
Beachbum_: Does using minoxidil and laser increase the stimulation (ie double the benefits) or is one or the other better?
Sonia Avelar: Is there a Part 2? Can't find it. Thank you.
Huda: My doctor told me to use the 2% for my female pattern hair loss because 5% minoxidil significantly increases facial hair (as a side effect) And I've been using 2% for 4 years now Should I switch to 5% ?
Alison Hempstead: What blood work are you doing to detect FPHL?
Stephie Nicole Martinez: It also comes in a liquid dropper form.
Jengira Begue: I am shedding A LOT on minoxidil. Maybe 1000 and over on wash days, and 500 on non-wash days. Currently in the shedding phase (week 5). My hair is already super thin so losing this much hair is alarming. Would you say this is normal or is this a bad reaction (if there is such?) I'm not over exaggerating as I have suffered with chronic TE for years and know what shedding is like.
swetha: could you emphasise on hormonal assessment related to hair loss in women
Christine B: So do I have this correct. I can apply minoxidil in the morning when I get up, then 1 hour later I can shower and wash my hair and it won’t “wash” the effects of the product away?
Rosemary Banner: What about finasteride?
indu pramod: Can women use the Rogaine 5% minoxidine
rumaisa shahid: Plz guide my hair are very loss in day by day plz help us
docha tube ዶቼ: Saw pawmato is good or similar to finoseterid
bleachcheeks: microneedling?
spy: What is your opinion about the Zix formula(b6+zinc)? google zix (i know you cant prescribe it, just wanted to know your opinion on that if you have any)
Alexandra Theis: My dermatologist just prescribed 10% minoxidil and 0.1% finnastaride topical. Have you ever heard of this?
Hdlon Ldn: PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION: DOES MINOXIDIL CAUSE WRINKLES AND AGES YOU?? im 21 years old and started regaine foam due to female pttern hair loss. But i have puffy eyes in the morning, then through more research i found that alot of people reported minoxidle causes wrinkles, dark circles and ages you.
Lion King: Minoxedin is not a solution. I have tried it. Well, after applying it, I felt hade ache. And that's after every applying. Also it could affect on heart badly. And the worth thing, if you stop using it, all hair will fall. All.