The One Serum Dermatologists Swear by to Promote New Hair Growth
October 5, 2019 by Robyn Turk
There’s nothing more stressful than thinning hair. We’re not just talking about thin hair that needs a boost of volume, but seriously thin hair that wasn’t always thin. While hair loss is more commonly discussed in men, it is a completely normal thing for women to experience too, and there are many reasons why it might start.
“The causes of hair loss in women can be quite varied and complex. The main reason is genetic and is often referred to as female pattern alopecia, or hair loss,” Dr. Christine Shaver of Bernstein Medical in New York City told SheFinds. “Common medical conditions that cause hair loss include thyroid and auto-immune disease, stress, hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, anemia and crash dieting. In contrast to causing actual thinning seen in genetic hair loss, these conditions actually cause hair to fall out. This hair loss can often be reversed by correcting the underlying cause.”
The good news is, whether your hair is thinning from hormones, medical conditions or genetics, there are ways to promote new hair growth. Many people swear by biotin supplements, but Dr. Shaver has another suggestion. “In our experience, the most effective over-the counter product to promote hair growth in women is the men’s 5% minoxidil solution,” she said.
Many companies create topical scalp products with a 5% minoxidil solution advertised for men, like the Nioxin Hair Regrowth Treatment For Men, while products advertised for women only contain 2% minoxidil solutions. However, Dr. Shaver said that the standard 5% strength is okay for women wanting to promote new hair growth to use.
“For women with more extensive hair loss, I often recommend using 2-3 droppers (2-3 milliliters) of the liquid to fully coat the entire area of concern. It needs to contact the scalp for 4-6 hours every day to be effective,” Dr. Shaver said.