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THE CABINET DAY · 20 OCTOBER 2026 · 3 MIN DE LECTURE

How can women treat hair loss?

Diffuse hair loss, hair that refines, deficiency or stress: understand the causes and steps of a scalp management in women.

Woman watching her face in a mirror

The essential benchmarks

The answer in a few words

The first step is to understand why hair falls. A hair loss after a disease, hair that gradually refines and plaque loss do not require the same treatment. An examination of the scalp makes it possible to direct the balance and avoid care chosen at random.

Does a larger hair loss mean baldness?

Not necessarily. Hair naturally detachs every day. An unusual amount on the brush or in the shower may correspond to a reactional drop, called telogenic effluvium. It may appear with a lag after illness, childbirth, a period of stress or significant weight loss.

On the other hand, a line that slowly expands and thinner hair on the top of the skull can evoke an androgenetic alopecia. These situations can also be combined. A photo and a description of the chronology are often more useful than a daily count of hair.

When do we need to consult?

Make an appointment if the hair loss persists, if the density decreases or if you are worried. It is not necessary to wait for several months in case of plaques that quickly disintegrate, pain, redness, crusts or itching.

A hair loss associated with unusual fatigue, very abundant periods or other changes in health also deserves to be reported. These elements guide the assessment; they do not alone prove a deficiency or hormonal disorder.

What tests are really useful?

The consultation begins with questions: start date, evolution, recent pregnancy, medications, diets, tight hairstyles and family history. The examination observes the distribution of hair loss, hair and condition of the scalp.

A blood test may be proposed depending on this context, for example to look for iron deficiency or thyroid disorder. It is not necessary to systematically request all available dosages. Bring the results you already have and do not stop a medicine without medical advice.

Are vitamins and supplements sufficient?

Correcting an identified deficit may be helpful. On the other hand, multiplying complements without knowing your needs does not address all causes of falls. A diet too restrictive or insufficient in protein should be addressed as a whole.

The doctor may propose a nutritional support where relevant. This allows us to discuss the relationship between diet, weight variations and hair health, rather than adding a new course of treatment to those already tried.

What treatments can be offered?

The choice depends on the diagnosis. For some androgenetic alopecia, treatment such as minoxidil can be discussed with the doctor. Its use requires checking the indication, precautions and compatibility with a pregnancy or pregnancy project.

An inflammatory scalp disease requires its own treatment. Injection care, including hair mesotherapythen discuss each other according to cause, product and situation: they do not replace the treatment of deficiency or inflammation.

How long does it take to see an improvement?

The hair cycle is slow. Slowing down and recovering density may not occur at the same time. A regrowth begins with short hair, not visible, before changing the appearance of the hair.

The evolution is judged over several months, often in a three to six-month photographic assessment depending on the management. In chronic falls, maintenance of the result may require prolonged treatment. Stopping or changing the method too quickly sometimes prevents a proper assessment of its interest.

What to do while waiting for the appointment?

Avoid pulling hairstyles, aggressive handling and significant dietary restrictions. Keep a comfortable washing routine for your scalp: space shampoos at all costs does not treat the cause of the hair loss.

Prepare your prescriptions, your last tests and, if possible, some old photos. Dr. Marianne Cayatte welcomes you to Montpellier for a medical examination. The guide to hair mesotherapy allows you to understand this treatment before discussing its place in your follow-up.

A question about your situation? The practice welcomes you to 4 Passage Lonjon, Place de la Comédie in Montpellier.

Contact the practice

Medical sources and information

Information article, published on 20 October 2026. The time limits referred to are general benchmarks; the consultation specifies those of the treatment chosen.