Propecia for Women's Hair Loss
Do you have any information on whether Propecia can be taken by women? If yes, what are the results?
Propecia (finasteride), a treatment for hair loss commonly used by men, has been studied in women -- but not to treat thinning hair as much as to treat excessive, unwanted hair growth. Hirsutism is the medical term for excessive hair growth in cosmetically undesirable locations. Propecia, by inhibiting conversion of testosterone to its active metabolite in the hair follicles, blocks the growth of unwanted hair. In the cases of "androgenic alopecia," or male-pattern balding, Propecia prevents testosterone from sending these hairs into a shedding and resting phase, but rather allows the hair to grow. For now, the only medication FDA-approved for use against androgenic alopecia in women is topical minoxidil (Rogaine).
Propecia has side effects and should NEVER be taken (or even touched by) a pregnant woman, as it may adversely affect a male fetus. Also, you should NEVER use a medication not specifically prescribed for you (in other words, don't borrow your husband's Propecia!). If you think you may benefit from Propecia, see your doctor.
Read more: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a22842176/coconut-oil-for-hair-growth/;
https://www.thinhairgrowthguide.com/cayenne-hair-growth/.
My sister-in-law had a baby four months ago. She has been breastfeeding since then. She has been losing a lot of hair through brushing, washing her hair, or even running her fingers through her hair. Is this related to the pregnancy or to the breastfeeding?
A thick head of shining hair is one of the perks of pregnancy -- and having it fall out in the months after delivery is common. Pregnancy can trigger hair to get in a growth phase all at the same time, rather than the usual pattern of some hair always growing while others are being shed. All these hairs then enter the shedding phase all at once, leading to the disturbing sight of a hundred hairs in the brush.
Rest assured, the vast majority of the time, this lost hair grows back. The normal growth patterns return and only a few dozen -- instead of a few hundred -- hairs are lost each day. Most of the time the drastic hair loss only lasts for three to six months. If it persists, a doctor visit is in order to rule out conditions such as thyroid abnormalities or scalp problems. In the meantime, avoid traumatizing the hair further -- use conditioners and gently comb instead of brushing; forgo blow drying; don't pull the hair back into tight ponytails.
