Medical Hair Problems in Women

Although hair transplant surgery can be used successfully to treat many cases of female hair loss, not all women are good candidates for surgery. There can be underlying medical conditions that can cause the hair loss such as thyroid problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, anaemia, chronic illness or hormonal changes.

Certain types of autoimmune disorders may give rise to a slightly different and often less dramatic hair loss problem known as alopecia areata. This is an inflammatory condition that can cause hair to come out in clumps or patches.

Temporary hair shedding that often follows childbirth, crash dieting, surgery, or a traumatic emotional event is known as telogen effluvium, a condition which creates a change in the natural hair growth system.

There are also ‘scarring alopecias’. Transplanting into these areas will not be successful.

For these types of conditions, our specialist Trichologist, Mr. Robert Olding, will be available for consultation with women attending the Wimpole Clinic - to diagnose the origin of the hair loss and advise on the appropriateness of surgical treatment.

If there is an underlying physical or medical problem this has to be corrected first, which may preclude the need for hair transplant surgery. It may be advisable to undertake blood tests or even a scalp biopsy as part of the diagnostic process.

A medical treatment often prescribed for female hair loss is Minoxidil 4% lotion.
And there are various cosmetic 'cover-up’ products that are extremely useful in disguising hair loss. Many women are able to use these products to make the hair appear thicker and they often help towards styling the hair to create density. They come in a variety of colours to suit all hair types and can become an effective part of the daily routine to disguise hair loss or thinning.