Hair loss in women can be treated

March 2006

Half of U.S. women will experience some form of hair loss by the time they are 50 years old, a North Carolina researcher says.

Hair may cease being a "crowning glory" for the affected woman and may require an adjustment in how she perceives herself and how she presents herself, says dermatologist Dr. Elise A. Olsen, of Duke University in Durham, N.C.

"Women are generally unclear as to why they are experiencing hair loss and often go to the Internet searching for remedies, most of which are ineffective and unnecessarily expensive," says Olsen. "Women need to see a dermatologist when they develop hair loss to make sure that it is not coming from an undiagnosed medical problem and a dermatologist can educate them on ways to minimize or reverse hair loss."

Women with female pattern hair loss should see a dermatologist to determine if their hair loss is associated with underlying hormonal or endocrine problems, Olsen said.

Olsen presented her findings at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco.