Show Notes
Why does your ponytail suddenly feel thinner? Why does your parting look wider in photos? And why are so many women told that hair thinning is “just part of ageing” ... with very little guidance on what to do next?
In this episode of the After Hours Skin Clinic , consultant dermatologists Dr Emma Craythorne and Dr Ellie Rashid unpack the science, myths and emotional reality of female pattern hair loss.
From hormonal shifts and nutritional deficiencies to stress, postpartum shedding and scalp inflammation, they explain why female hair thinning is often misunderstood and why early diagnosis matters more than most people realise.
Expect evidence-based advice, practical treatment insights, and a few unexpectedly funny moments involving ketoconazole shampoo and a very confused patient.
Inside this episode:
What female pattern hair loss actually is (and why it’s different from male pattern baldness)
The signs dermatologists look for during scalp examination and trichoscopy
Why hair loss in women is often dismissed for too long
The role of hormones, genetics, thyroid health, stress and menopause
Iron, ferritin, zinc and vitamin D: the blood tests that really matter
Why “hair vitamins” aren’t always the answer
How dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis can affect scalp health and hair growth
The truth about minoxidil, including the “dread shed”
Oral minoxidil, spironolactone, finasteride and other medical treatments
PRP, microneedling, laser-assisted delivery and LED helmets, what does the evidence actually say?
Why postpartum hair shedding can sometimes uncover underlying female pattern hair loss
When thinning hair could signal something more serious
This episode is for anyone who has ever looked at their hairbrush, widened parting or thinning ponytail and wondered: is this normal and what can I do about it?
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Email: [email protected]
Producer: Ella Blaxill
Exec: Eve Streeter
Music by Simon Elms.
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