There is no question that women love their hair. With an average annual salon and spa sales of more than $40 billion, based on National Cosmetology Association estimates, the demand for salon services only gets larger.
Unfortunately, some women experience significant hair loss that even the best stylist is unable to mask. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the average person loses 50 to 100 hairs per day, so noticing that you have shed a few more hairs than normal is not necessarily cause for alarm. But men and women who suffer from pattern baldness, also called alopecia, will see a significant amount of hair has fallen out, causing noticeable thinning of the hair or baldness. You should consult with a hair loss specialist if you notice more hair shedding when you comb or brush your hair and your hair is becoming thinner.
The AAD estimates about 30 million female alopecia sufferers in American have hereditary hair loss. An additional, unknown number experience non-hereditary hair loss related to medical conditions, such as a side effect of cancer treatment. But what the numbers do not explain is the emotional toll hair loss has on women.
“It’s horrible,” says Cindy Smith (who asked to use a fake name), who suffers from alopecia. “It’s so bad because there was no answer to the problem.”
Self-Esteem at Risk
In quality-of-life studies, the AAD found that women experiencing hair loss reported a higher incidence of behavior that interfered with their daily lives that include a significant loss of self-esteem, introversion, feeling less attractive, and tense feelings in public places.
For many women, their hair is symbolic of their beauty. When they suffer from hair loss they begin to feel very self-conscious and often choose to not go to certain places because they don’t want to be seen.
An example of this would be, an outdoor lunch with friends on a sunny summer day may be out of the question for a woman who fears that others will notice her thinning hair.
Related: What Are the Various Types of Alopecia
Finding a solution
Like many women who suffer from hereditary hair loss, Cindy Smith first noticed something was wrong after shampooing her hair and seeing a significant amount of hair shed in the drain. She sought the help of a hair loss professional to determine a cause but came up empty.
To diagnose the cause of thinning hair, a hair loss specialist will ask the patient for a detailed history. This includes medications, allergies, family history, and diet, as well as a woman’s record of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
The process will also include a detailed inspection of the scalp and hair. They will also look at hair distribution over the rest of the body to see how much or how little amounts of hair are in other areas. A scalp biopsy can also be done to help confirm a diagnosis of hair loss.
At the direction of her dermatologist, Smith tried several non-surgical treatments, such as a 5 percent minoxidil solution and laser hair therapy. However, none of the non-surgical treatments gave her the improvement she was looking for until she tried hair replacements for women.
A non-surgical hair replacement allows women like Cindy Smith to take back control and have the hair they want. It feels and moves like naturally growing hair and you can style it in just about any hairstyle. It’s not a wig but something much better. It’s a part of you just like your own hair.
Whether you are looking for hair loss solutions in Livermore, California or are investigating hair replacement options in Pleasanton, California, if you’re considering trying a hair system and want to learn more, contact us today.
