Sometimes Hair Loss in Women Can Point to Bigger Health Issues

By Cara Murez 

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, March 17, 2023 (HealthDay Information) — Hair loss may be devastating for girls, however the situation may sign further well being issues.

An American Academy of Dermatology skilled affords details about the varieties of hair loss seen in girls with darker pores and skin tones, widespread varieties of medical situations related to hair loss and therapy choices.

“Analysis exhibits that girls who expertise hair loss may produce other medical situations like diabetes, zits and breast most cancers,” mentioned Dr. Valerie Callender, professor of dermatology at Howard College School of Medication in Washington, D.C.

“By recognizing the indicators of hair loss and seeing your dermatologist as quickly as potential, you could possibly restrict the development, maintain on to the hair you’ve gotten, and uncover some other underlying medical situations you might have,” she mentioned in an academy information launch.

One situation — central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) — causes hair loss within the heart of the scalp. That is the commonest kind of hair loss seen in girls with darker pores and skin tones, affecting practically 15% of Black girls.

Early detection is vital as a result of CCCA may cause scarring by destroying hair follicles. As soon as the hair follicle scars fully, regrowth turns into tough and hair loss may be everlasting.

A dermatologist can diagnose this situation and work on a therapy plan, which may embody antibiotics, topical steroid remedy or corticosteroid injections, providing ache aid and freedom from itching. It will probably additionally forestall scarring from getting worse.

Breast most cancers, excessive ldl cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension are widespread amongst Black girls with CCCA, Callender mentioned. A dermatologist could possibly present a girl with data on whether or not the hair loss could also be symptom of one other illness.

Feminine sample hair loss can be widespread, affecting hundreds of thousands of girls of all pores and skin tones.

With this hereditary situation, the hair thins primarily on the highest of the scalp. It normally begins with a widening of the middle hair half. Many ladies with feminine sample hair loss even have zits due to elevated hormones, Callender mentioned. Menopause and hypertension are additionally widespread as feminine sample hair loss progresses.

A potential therapy for that is minoxidil, which may scale back hair loss, stimulate hair development and strengthen current strands of hair. You should purchase merchandise containing this on the drug retailer, however a dermatologist could possibly give you a better dosage accessible with a prescription.

Hairstyles that tightly pull the hair may cause traction alopecia, which is widespread in girls with darker pores and skin tones as a consequence of hair styling.

“One of many first issues I ask my sufferers who’ve a historical past of braids is that if it hurts when their hair is braided,” Callender mentioned. “Getting your hair performed shouldn’t harm, so if they’ve ache, it’s an indicator that they might be growing traction alopecia.”

An individual can nonetheless keep a way of fashion, however with a looser ‘do or by avoiding frequent use of types that pull hair.

Components in hair merchandise are additionally vital, Callender mentioned. Whereas girls with darker pores and skin tones, significantly these of African descent, have hair that tends to be coarse, dry and fragile, some shampoos for dandruff and different scalp issues can additional dry out hair, resulting in breakage. Shampoos and hair merchandise ought to comprise substances that moisturize hair reminiscent of nutritional vitamins A and E, jojoba oil and shea butter.

“When therapies will not be efficient to stop hair loss, a everlasting resolution is to contemplate a hair transplant, which creates natural-looking outcomes,” Callender mentioned. “Hair transplants are best in sufferers with traction alopecia and feminine sample hair loss. Whereas sufferers with CCCA aren’t at all times very best candidates for a hair transplant as a consequence of scarring, it’s potential for them to have success. A board-certified dermatologist can decide if a hair transplant is the fitting choice.”

Callender is scheduled to make a presentation on hair loss at a gathering of the American Academy of Dermatology, in New Orleans, March 17-21.

Extra data

The Journal of the American Medical Affiliation has extra on widespread causes of hair loss.

SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology, information launch, March 17, 2023