Many factors can attribute to hair loss and thinning in women. From hormonal issues to flat irons, different situations can affect hair loss including:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Stress
• Certain hairstyles
• Chemotherapy
• Menopause

A woman’s androgen index, hormone injections, progestin implants,  and the patch can all aid hair loss in women.  AHLA indicates that women should use a birth control pill with a “low-androgen index”.  As women approach menopause, it is common for them to have a decreasing amount of estrogen in their system compared to testosterone.  It has been suggested that some drug treatments may aid in deterring hair loss by blocking/lowering testosterone levels in women.  Such treatments are:

• Rogaine
• Testosterone-blocking drugs such as Eulexin and Aldactone are suggested to help stop hair loss.
• Treatment of underlying conditions such as an inflammatory condition
• Cortisone injections or topical treatment
• Laser phototherapy