Genetic Test for Women’s Hair Loss
On April 23, 2008, HairDX, LLC issued a press release announcing the launch of commercial testing for female hair loss. Their breakthrough test uses genetic markers associated with Female Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) to determine the chances of whether a woman is likely to suffer with future hair loss.
According to HairDX, AGA (female baldness) “has been difficult to diagnose because women don’t develop a pattern like men do, they tend to thin diffusely, and there are many causes for thinning.”
By age 50, approximately 50% of women will experience thinning that can lead to hair loss and baldness. JAAPA, a peer-reviewed clinical journal for the American Academy of Physician Assistants states that this estimate is conservative at best. According to The American Hair Loss Association, Androgenetic Alopecia in women is a neglected epidemic that is nearly as common as male pattern hair loss.
The HairDX test is simple and painless. It involves swabbing the inside of the mouth, then sending the swab to the HairDX lab. Results are confidential, anonymous, and sent via a secure web site.
Each woman who participates in testing will be provided with results in the form of a score. Higher scores indicate a lower chance for succumbing to significant hair loss due to heredity. A lower score indicates greater likelihood for future hair loss.
According to Spencer Kobren, Founder of The American Hair Loss Association,
early diagnosis is one of the most critical factors in preventing further hair loss, which is why this test is revolutionary. Preventing hair loss is far more attainable than reversing its effects. While effective treatments to combat female pattern hair loss are available, early intervention is critical successful treatment.
Dr. Sharon Keene, who is the Chief Medical Officer for HairDX says, “Helping women assess their risk for Female Hair Loss early in the course of their hair loss enables them to learn about potential treatment options and how they may prevent further hair loss.”
Visit the HairDX website at www.hairdx.com to learn more about the test and to order a swab kit. The test costs $149.
Technorati Tags: American Hair Loss Association, androgenetic alopecia, genetic hair loss test, hairdx, spencer kobren, womens hair lossWomen’s Hair Loss: From Stress to Placebo Treatment
In a recent article, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported the story of Sheree Kleinhuizen, who was experiencing significant hair loss and growing concerned over the amount of hair that she was losing on a daily basis.
Sheree collected the hair in plastic baggies and brought them to her doctor, but she was told that her hair loss was caused by stress and would cease in a few months’ time. When her hair loss did not abate, Sheree went to see a hair care professional, who sold her a “medicated” hair loss product called Therapro.
Although the lost hair did not grow back, Sheree did stop experiencing any further hair loss. However, it is unclear whether her use of Therapro truly affected Sheree’s hair loss in any way.
Spencer Kobren, founder of the American Hair Loss Association, doubts that Therapro is a valid treatment:
“There is nothing in those products that can stop hair loss or will regrow hair,” said Kobren, whose own hair-loss concerns led him to start the organization. “There is definitely a placebo effect, and it can be coincidental.”
Jennifer Williford, who works as a physician’s assistant at Southwest Michigan Dermatology, supports the notion that Therapro may have had a placebo effect for Sheree. Although Williford wasn’t familiar with Therapro, she explained that patients often mention products that supposedly stop or reverse hair loss. Many such products are based on herbal remedies.
There is a good chance that Sheree Kleinhuizen’s hair loss ceased due to a placebo effect of the product she was sold. It’s also possible that her hair loss was truly stress related and when her stress eased, so did her hair loss.
The only FDA-approved hair loss products for treating hereditary hair loss are Rogaine and Propecia. Rogaine is an external treatment used by both men and women. Propecia, which is a pill, is only approved for use by men.
Spencer Kobren also noted that hair loss is a $3.5 billion industry and that “Ninety-nine percent of products and services that claim to help with hair loss (or) prevention are bogus, questionable at best.”
Read the full article
Women’s Hair Loss Support Chat Thursday April 10th 6:30 - 7:30pm PST
The Women’s Hair Loss Project, is conducting the first ever live chat for female hair loss sufferers on the worldwide web tonight, Thursday April 10th at 6:30-7:30pm PST.
Emerging as the first social networking site specifically for women suffering with hair loss, womenshairlossproject.com set new ground when they launched their site in August 2007. Now with scheduled live chats, women have a safe place to congregate each week to discuss their issues, and to share their knowledge, hope and strength with others from around the world.
The Women’s Hair Loss Project remains the only non-commercial site of its kind, and is at the forefront of the field, providing women in need with an inspirational, uplifting environment to learn about their conditions and to meet others who understand.
Learn how to participate here: http://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss/womens-hair-loss-support-chat/
Technorati Tags: chat, support, womens hair loss, womens hair loss projectWomen and Hair Loss - Finding Support Online
Hair loss is usually seen as an condition particular to men despite the fact that forty percent of hair loss sufferers in America are women. While men struggle with the effects of hair loss, women find it devastating and experience greater psychological damage due to the pressures on women to maintain their youth and beauty. With very little help from the medical community, women face a unique set of problems in terms of coping with hair loss.
Cultural Pressure
Every day the pressure for women to look fabulous increases. TV commercials, magazine ads, and billboards show airbrushed women who look gorgeous. They are thin, have flawless skin, and lush locks. Articles and entire magazines as well as television shows are dedicated to the art of looking beautiful. The message from American media is that women must look absolutely stunning every minute of the day. This sets most women up for failure, and leaves hair loss sufferers feeling lost and alone.
Psychological Damage
The psychological damage that hair loss can wreak on women is astounding. In a world where there is plenty of information on weight loss and coping with skin problems and aging, hair loss often goes unrecognized as a major issue for women and women who suffer from it are left to fend for themselves. Feeling unattractive can lead to a sense of inadequacy and loneliness. Worst of all, the damaging effects on the psyche can take a physical toll, leading to eating problems, high levels of stress, and other mental and emotional issues.
The Medical Community
The medical community does not treat hair loss as a serious disease because it’s not seen as life threatening. Women’s hair loss, compared to men’s, is practically nonexistent in the health care industry. Until the effects of hair loss have had a detrimental effect on a woman’s psychological health, it’s unlikely that her health care professional will offer much help or support.
Women’s Hair Loss Project
The Women’s Hair Loss Project is a web site where women can gather, share their stories, and support each other through the trying effects of hair loss. There are also plenty of resources for female hair loss sufferers to explore. Please visit at www.womenshairlossproject.com
Technorati Tags: hair loss, support, womens hair loss, womens hair loss projectLandmark Poll Links The Pill to Women’s Hair Loss
The life altering affects of hair loss is no secret to those it afflicts. While 2/3rds of men suffer with hair loss by or before the age of thirty-five, forty percent of hair loss sufferers are women. That’s right, women.
The truth is that hair loss in woman is on the rise, and it’s striking earlier in life than ever before in our history.
There are approximately 40 million women in the US who suffer with some form of hair loss with the vast majority suffering with androgenetic alopecia ( female pattern hair loss).
Under normal conditions even women with the genetic predisposition for female pattern hair loss, will usually be affected later in life. However, any change in a woman’s delicate hormonal balance can trigger the early onset of this devastating genetic condition.
There is no doubt that the early onset of female pattern hair loss coincides with the use of oral contraceptives, and for those women with a strong genetic predisposition the consequences of taking the Pill can be devastating
A landmark poll of 517 woman suffering with hair loss, conducted by The Women’s Hair Loss Project, reaffirms the scientific studies linking hair loss to the use of birth control pills.
Before you consider taking the pill read this article: Women’s Hair Loss Survey Debunks Myths
My 17 Year Old Daughter Lost Her Hair After A Car Accident. Should She Have A Hair Transplant?
Hair loss caused by physical injury can be as debilitating to some as the initial trauma itself. While uncommon, a severe blow to the head can cause what’s known as “Anagen Effluvium.” The loss of blood supply to the scalp as a direct result of injury can cause a dramatic shedding of hair that in some cases will not return.
Recently IAHRS Member and IAHRS Info Center Contributing Editor, Dr Jerry Cooley, responded to a question from the mother of a 17 year old girl who suffered with hair loss caused by a car accident.
Technorati Tags: anagen effuvium, hair loss, hair transplantVeiw Article: Hair Los Cause By Car Accident
Online Support for Women with Hair Loss
As devastating as it is for a man to begin losing his hair, for whatever reason, society accepts male pattern baldness as one of life’s, not so pleasant, bumps in the road. For what it’s worth, men have been granted society’s approval to go bald with dignity.
Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the more than 40 million women in this country who suffer with hair loss.
Hair loss effects one out of every four women by the age of thirty-five and more than fifty percent of women by the age of fifty. Forty percent our nation’s hair hair loss sufferers are women, yet this silent epidemic is all but ignored by mainstream medicine, the media and by society as a whole.
Women dealing with the emotional devastation of hair loss are forced to suffer in silence, due in part to the uncomfortable nature of this misunderstood condition. Female hair loss sufferers often feel isolated, and their fear of being exposed often keeps them from seeking effective treatment.
The Women’s Hair Loss Project was the creation of one courageous young woman. Her idea was simple…to chronicle her life as a hair loss sufferer and to provide women from around the world with a safe place to share, to vent, to learn an to inspire others dealing with this neglected epidemic.
Womenshairlossproject.com is the most powerful, inspirational and informative women’s hair loss website on the world wide web and the only women’s hair loss site endorsed by The American Hair Loss Association.
The American Hair Loss Association strongly encourages women suffering with hair loss to empower themselves with the incredible wealth of knowledge strength and hope that The Women’s’ Hair Loss Project provides.
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair loss stories, womens hair lossThe Truth About Hair Transplants For Women
For the right candidate who chooses the right hair transplant surgeon, a hair transplant can be a good option. However the vast majority of women with common androgenic alopecia/female pattern hair loss do not make good candidates for hair transplantation.
Contrary to what the large chain hair transplant companies are promoting to the public, hair transplantation in women is a very specialized procedure and should only be performed on very specific candidates.
Jean Enersen of Seattle’s NBC affiliate King 5 News tackled this controversial issue and sheds some light on the reality of hair transplantation for women. To view the hair transplant story click here.
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant candidate, hair transplants in women, King 5 newsI’m 61 Losing My Hair - What Do You Think About HRT For Menopause and Hair Loss?
Question:
I am 61 and had been on HRT for 12 years for menopause. The Dr. took me off of it 6 months ago and within 3 months the hair loss started. I went to a Dermatologist who then directed me to a female Gyn. She ran many tests and found that my testosterone was low and estrogen extremely low. I had been on a combi patch for the last 6 years but new Gyn put me on a low dose Prometrium (progesterone) and vivelle dot (estradiol) which I’ve been taking now for 2 weeks. Still my hair loss seems to be getting worse. This is all very distressing to me as my hair was on the thinner side to begin with. I would be interested in hearing any comments you might have on HRT for menopause and hair loss.
Answer:
Menopause is a major event in a woman’s life and in spite of all the media coverage, there is still much confusion about it. While menopause has effects on a woman’s hair, these tend to be ignored both by the medical establishment and by writers on women’s health.
The effect of estrogen is to make hair grow faster and stay on the head longer. Basically more estrogen means more hair. That is why when women are pregnant, hair gets fuller. Turning this around, anything that produces a drop in estrogen can induce shedding. This happens after giving birth, sometimes after stopping birth control pills, and with menopause.
Not all women are equally vulnerable to estrogen drops but most women begin to have thinning hair sometime after age forty-five or fifty, because that is when the ovary slows down and produces less and less estrogen.
Hormone replacement helps hair but hair often needs more estrogen than the rest of a woman’s body. The emphasis now is on using mini-doses of estrogen. While these may help bones and reduces symptoms such as hot flashes, they may not be enough for hair. Using more estrogen generally helps menopause related hair loss but whether estrogen therapy is a good idea depends on a woman’s particular situation.
It is also important to know that after starting any treatment for female alopecia, it takes a minimum of 2 to 4 months to see any improvement in shedding, Regrowth is possible but takes longer.
Patches such as Vivelle dot or gels are the best way to use estrogen.
Estrogen safety issues are important. These are addressed in detail in Chapter 22 of my recent book, It’s Your Hormones.
I hope this makes things a little clearer for you.
About the author: AHLA Contributing Editor Geoffrey Redmond, M.D., is an endocrinologist specializing in female hormone problems. His primary focus for more than twenty years has been conditions in which hormones adversely affect women’s well-being, particularly those which affect appearance. Learn more about Dr. Geoffrey Redmond.
No TagsThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution Turns to Spencer Kobren and The AHLA To Tackle Women’s Hair Loss
Vikki Conwell’s piece in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Hair Loss: Getting To The Root of the Problem touches on the devastating reality of hair loss in women.
Forty percent of hair loss suffers in North America are women, yet this silent epidemic is frequently ignored by mainstream medicine, and until recently the mainstream media. The article discusses the importance of early intervention as well as some of the myths that surround this little talked about condition. The article also discusses ways for women to cope, including finding online support. The American Hair Loss Association recommends that women visit The Women’s Hair Loss Project www.womenshairlossproject.com
Technorati Tags: AJC, hair loss treatment, spencer kobren, womens hair loss