Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss | Dr. Angela Phipps - 034

HAIRPOD™

This week on HairPod, I sat down with an expert in all things hair loss, Dr. Angie Phipps. She is a hair transplant surgeon with over two decades of experience in the industry, and she was the star of the TLC reality series, Bad Hair Day. She joined us to shed some light on an important issue that affects over 100 million Americans: male and female pattern hair loss.

Female vs. Male Pattern Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss is different from male pattern baldness in a few key ways. They are both caused by the impacts of hormones on different receptors throughout the body, and these hormones cause hair loss when those hormones affect our hair follicles in certain ways. In men, this type of hair loss centralizes on certain areas, like the forehead and top of the crown. Women can experience thinning in any zone, and it typically happens in a more diffuse way. For both men and women, the amount of hair loss you’ll experience due to this condition is genetic, and science doesn’t have a consistent way to shut down the gene or the receptors.

How Effective is Finasteride?

Male pattern hair loss happens due to one specific hormone, and science has found a way to block that hormone without any negative side effects. That treatment is called finasteride, and it helps many men stop their hair loss. Women, on the other hand, experience hair loss due to a combination of hormones, and there are negative effects to blocking them. This means that hormonal treatments are only really helpful for men at this time. For men who don’t experience great results with finasteride, Dr. Phipps typically prescribes dutasteride. In either case, the medications must be continued to block the hormone. If the medication is stopped, hair loss will resume.

Finasteride as a Preventative Measure

Genetic hair loss can skip generations, but if it’s somewhere in your family history, you may very well experience it. Dr. Phipps recommends starting the medication early so that you don’t experience extensive hair loss before stopping it. While there are always risks for medication to cause side effects, finasteride has been studied long-term and it has not had major long-term side effects on any internal processes or organs.

Is Finasteride Right for Me?

Regular hair shedding is normal, so how do you know if you’re experiencing hair loss? It’s normal to lose 100-150 hairs per day, so if you see a bit of hair in your comb every day, there’s no need to panic. But if you start to see an increasing amount of hair coming out in your brush or in the shower, there’s no harm in consulting with a professional. They have the tools and knowledge to determine whether you’re experiencing hair loss. If you think you’re experiencing hair loss and hair loss runs in your family, Dr. Phipps suggests starting preventative care early. But hair loss can be caused by other factors, and a hair loss specialist can give you an idea of what is causing the hair loss.

The Best Treatment for Hair Loss is Comprehensive

Hair loss can have a variety of causes. Rather than trying just one tactic, the greatest chance you have for success in reducing your hair loss is to take a multifaceted approach. Dr. Phipps works with clients to determine what combination of treatments will support the best possible results in her patients. When you work with professionals like her, you can benefit from their years of experience and work with them to find something that works for you and your budget. More is more!

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