ORLANDO, Fla. – Thinning hair can be tough to handle, especially for women.
Experts say women make up 40 percent of everyone who experiences hair loss.
And while women haven't always had as many treatment options as men, there's new hope on the horizon.
Arlyn Stern had visible bald patches about 10 months ago.
"It was incredibly devastating," Stern said.
Now, she has a full head of hair.
Stern's doctor recommended she try a new product made for women containing 5 percent minoxidil, a topical over-the-counter medication that promotes hair growth.
"Little by little, all of a sudden follicles are really coming, and it just began to really grow out," Stern said.
And that $30 bottle is just one of the latest options for women with hair loss. The number of treatments is growing.
"This is an exciting time for research breakthroughs," said Dr. Shani Francis, a dermatologist.
One of the newest therapies is platelet-rich plasma injections.
Sharon Eckhart, who has "hair shedding," pays about $1,400 a session for the procedure every six months.
"It's cumulative, so each time I have it done the results are better and better," Eckhart said.
A centrifuge concentrates platelets from Eckhart's own blood.
Then, under local anesthesia, it's injected back into her scalp. The goal is to turn on stem cells and regenerate blood vessels supplying blood to the follicle.
"We see about 80 percent of the patients have a positive result," said Joseph Greco, a hair loss expert. "Within two months, we can reduce shedding to a normal level. It takes about a year for reversing the thinning."
High-tech devices, experts say, are also making a difference when combined with other therapies.
Eckhart gets laser treatments in conjunction with PRP injections in the doctor's office.
And "use at home" low-level laser helmets and combs range from $300 to $700.
Doctors say just to make sure any device you buy is FDA-approved and you use it only as directed.
"I have seen some really good results," Francis said. "It is a more of an investment for someone to pay for this device, but once they buy it they have it, so I do think it's a potential option."
There are surgical options, too.
But only about 13 percent of hair loss surgeries are done on women.
One reason for the low numbers, Greco said, is because "the main complaint for females is thinning of hair and shedding of hair. So hair transplantation, while it's very effective with females, it's not going to do anything for thinning and shedding of hair."
Both Stern and Eckhart say they're grateful they found these new treatments.
And leaving those bald patches behind has been worth every penny.
"I don't care about the amount of money I spent," Eckhart said. "It's been very worth it for me because I have my hair back."
Experts say new oral medications are being tested right now that seem promising for female hair loss.