Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects one woman in every ten of childbearing age. The exact process of how the condition initiates is not fully known yet. However, most assume the condition arises from an imbalance in hormone production which leads to the emergence of cysts on the ovaries. Consequently, the cysts maintain the hormone imbalance and eventually it becomes a cycle.
A variety of symptoms accompany PCOS which include acne, hirsutism, and androgenic alopecia. Our focus today is on the particular symptom of female pattern hair loss.
Female pattern hair loss
Female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia is a condition that affects both men and women alike. The cause of hair loss is a version of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In testosterone-sensitive follicular units, DHT can lead to their premature closing. The high androgen rates in women affect the androgen-sensitive follicular units negatively. Over repeated exposure, the follicular units close.
The condition is easier to treat in men than women as men who suffer from the condition are eligible for hair transplantation. In order for hair transplants to work, there needs to exist a stable source of donor regions from which surgeons will extract donor hair and relocate to bald areas. In males, the hairs in the crown area tend to be androgen-sensitive, as a result, they tend to thin out. On the other hand, hairs in the back of the scalp tend to be androgen-resistant which make for a good supply of donor hairs. Moreover, hair loss in men tends to follow a predictable pattern.
In women, hair loss from androgenic alopecia does not follow a particular pattern and is more diffuse. In other words, it is difficult to determine stable donor regions for relocation. you can obtain more information about hair loss for women and its treatment by contacting vera clinic
How to reverse hair loss from polycystic ovary syndrome?
A few medications can treat androgenic alopecia. Monoxide is a serum or shampoo that treats androgenic alopecia in men and women. The mechanism by which the serum hinders hair loss and initiates growth is not fully understood yet. For the serum or shampoo to be effective, the patient needs to apply it twice per day. Side effects of monoxide include increased body hair which is an inconvenience seeing as PCOS causes hirsutism.
PRP therapy is a recent treatment for combating androgenic alopecia in women. Short for platelet-rich plasma, the therapy begins by withdrawing blood the standard way and centrifuging it. As a result of centrifugation, PRP separates from other blood components. Later the concentrate is ready for injection into the scalp.
PRP is effective for the growth factors it contains, particularly VEGF which shows a decrease in androgenic alopecia. The boost of growth factors (proteins that bind to cells and trigger proliferation) hair growth initiates. The treatment is a set of monthly sessions and patients may need anywhere from one to eight sessions per year depending on the degree of hair loss.
In summary
A combination of androgen-sensitive follicular units and increased androgen production in PCOS lead to female pattern hair loss. The unpredictable nature of the condition in women makes hair transplant a non-practical solution. This leaves monoxide a serum or condition that treats hair loss in women, however, the solution causes increased body hair which is already a struggle for women with PCOS.
PRP is an alternative therapy for hair loss. The technique relies on the patient’s own cells to treat hair loss which does not cause any side effects. Moreover, unlike monoxide, the treatment does not have to be taken daily. Rather, the treatment comes in monthly sessions and patients may need one to eight sessions per year.