38, female, receding hairline - how do I get my hairline back? (Photos)

Question

Hi, I am a 38 year old female that has a receding hairline - the upper left and right corners are going farther back into my scalp. I also have difficulty growing my hair out.I do not like how this makes my face shape look and I'm worried about how far these peaks will recede. I am interested in learning about how to correct this so my hairline is more even, creating more symmetry for my face. Please advise on the least invasive, most effective treatments to try. Thank you.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hair loss in women can be caused by many factors including hormonal changes, stress, aging, or genetic predisposition. Treatments can vary based on the underlying cause, so it's recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis. 
Here are some potential treatment options:
1. Topical Medications: Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an over-the-counter medication that is applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It's one of the first-line treatments for hair loss in women.
2. Prescription Medications: Some prescription medications like Spironolactone and Finasteride are used off-label to treat female pattern hair loss. These need to be prescribed by a healthcare provider and may have side effects.
3. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This is a newer treatment where a sample of your blood is processed to isolate the platelets and growth factors, and then injected into your scalp to stimulate hair growth.
4. Hair Transplant Surgery: This is a more invasive option where hair follicles are moved from one part of your scalp to the areas of thinning or receding hair. It's usually considered if other treatments aren't effective.
5. Low-Level Laser Therapy: This treatment uses a device that emits light that can stimulate hair growth. It's non-invasive and can be done at home or in a clinic.
6. Lifestyle Changes: Ensuring a healthy diet, managing stress, and avoiding tight hairstyles that pull on the hair can also help manage hair loss.
Remember that results can vary and it often takes several months to see noticeable changes. It's always best to discuss these options with a healthcare provider to see what's most suitable for your specific situation.

Christine M. Shaver, MD · Answer

The best way to add fullness to a receded hairline in a woman would be with an FUT hair transplant procedure. Medications will largely help prevent further thinning and PRP will likely not cause enough growth to be a noticeable improvement (nor would LLLT or micro-needling be largely effective). FUT is often superior to FUE in women since less shaving is required of the donor hair, and the quality of individually dissected grafts from the removed FUT strip is superior. The main reason to avoid FUT would be the line scar that remains, but this is often a non-issue in people that keep their hair long. With FUT, a patient can return to seeing friends/colleagues after the 10-day healing period if they wish to practice discretion.

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

There are a few options to restore your hairline and achieve your goals. Of course, every person is different, and a consultation would be the best way to get a recommendation for your particular situation. But Dr. Barusco recorded this video to cover some of the options.

Ryan Goerig, MD, FAAD · Answer

The first question to answer is "why am I losing hair in my hair line?" It is essential that you establish a diagnosis first, then you will have a road map to fix the problem. You may need a complete workup (via a board-certified dermatologist with expertise in hair loss) of your hair loss + maybe even a scalp biopsy. Once all the information is in, a comprehensive treatment plan can be formulated that specifically addresses the cause of the hair loss. I have many patients that have similar hair loss to you and do quite well with the proper treatment.

Wipawan Vathananai, MD · Answer

Hello helloheiress! I would recommend getting a hair transplant to correct the receding hairline and restore more feminine look to your face. The procedure could be done either shaven or non-shaven FUE. You can also opt for FUT, however it's more invasive and need more recovery time.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. There are lots of factors that can lead to female hair loss such as aging, stress, and hormones. I would first advise you to see your primary care physician to see if any tests need to be run such as bloodwork. The least invasive treatment would be an over-the-counter medication called Minoxidil (Rogaine). The most invasive would be a hair transplant. There are other options as well but I think you should start with your doctor and then take it from there. Best wishes to you,

Dr. T

Dr. T

Edward Hsu, MD · Answer

The least invasive but less effective treatment would be minoxidil (rogaine). The most invasive but likely most effective treatment would be a hair transplant.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

You’ll want to review your entire story with an expert. An up cllose examination is essential here so be sure to actually visit a specialist so that a trichoscopy examination can be done. Issues like androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium (or both) need to be ruled out. If you dye your hair then excessive loss from these chemicals needs to be at least considered by an expert. All women with hair loss need blood tests so there is no exception here. The actual tests you’ll need depend on your story and so there is no exact list I can  recommend. Be sure to see an expert

38, female, receding hairline - how do I get my hairline back? (Photos)

Answers (8)

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