Facts On Hair Loss Among Women
Researchers have found that up to two thirds of women experience hair loss at
some stage in their life. Hair loss experienced by a woman can often be a very
stressful time as having beautiful hair is an integral part of their self
image.
Are you losing more than 20-100 strands of hairs a day? If your
answer is yes; you are experiencing hair loss. Before you get alarmed there are
some changes in your body either conscious or unconscious that maybe causing
your hair loss. Did you recently make a change in your diet? Are you eating
enough proteins and amino acids? Is your body going trough a hormonal change
(postpartum, thyroid), Anemia, stress, medications etc.? The most common causes
of hair loss in women is usually not related to inherited genes, but is usually
associated with other factors such as pregnancy, stress, chemotherapy, certain
diets, thyroid hormone deficiency, some drugs or infections. Unlike men, hair
loss in women is usually temporary and healthy re-growth can be a good
possibility.
Women rarely go bald but usually experience significant
thinning and reduction of the hair shaft diameter around the forehead and crown
of the scalp as they age. If you are one of the millions of women who suffer
from hair loss the most important factor is to understand why you are losing
your hair, before you seek out a hair loss remedy or solution.
Common
Causes of Hair Loss Among Women:
Hair Loss Due to Genetics: The most
common cause of hair loss is rooted in your genes also known as androgenetic
alopecia, hereditary hair loss can begin any time after puberty, but usually
sets in before the age of forty and may accelerate around the time a woman
reaches menopause.
Hair Loss Due to Pregnancy: A large amount of
oestrogen is produced during pregnancy causing the hair follicles to go into
their growth phase. Once the birth is over the hormonal balance is restored and
the opposite happens with the hair follicles going into a hair loss phase. The
will correct itself over time.
Hair Loss Due to Stress: Another common
reason for hair loss in women is stress known as Telogen Effluvium. What happens
during this type of hair loss is that the growing healthy hairs enter the
resting (telogen) phase of hair growth. The hairs matrix appears to stop
dividing causing the hair to begin falling out. Usually women in their 40?s to
60?s will be affected by this kind of hair loss.
Hair Loss Due to Drugs
or Supplements: The most common drug treatment that causes hair loss is
Chemotherapy. This kind of medication attacks the hair cells of the matrix
causing 90% hair loss from the scalp. Prescription drugs are also known to thin
hair out. These can be Blood thinners, high blood pressure and cholesterol
drugs. Some dieting supplements can also be causes of hair loss.
Hair
Loss Due to Hair pulling: Also known as trichotillomania. Unlike other types or
hair loss this is not a medical but more a psychological disorder. There are
literally millions of people around the world that suffer from this hair loss
condition. These are mostly adult women that suffer from low self esteem,
anxiety, depression or are dissatisfied with their bodies. This hair loss
condition can be effectively treated with counseling.
Hair Loss Due to
Alopecia areata: The reasons for this are relatively unknown but research has
shown that the cause is thought to be an auto immune disorder where the body
mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. What follows is an inflammation of the
hair follicles and surrounding hair structures. This causes the hair follicles
to retreat into the deeper layers of skin shutting off an important nutrient
supply, the follicles starve and the hair starts shedding followed by a dormant
period.
