There is a number of reasons why women might experience hair loss. Anything from medical conditions to hormonal changes or stress might just be the culprit. Age-related hair loss is common in women and about 55 percent of women experience some kind of hair loss by the age of 70. The most common cause of this is an inherited condition called the ‘female-pattern baldness’. Also referred to as Androgenetic Alopecia, this type of hair loss can start as early as the late teens.
The earlier it starts, the harsher the hair loss tends to be. It's regarded as the gradual thinning of the hair, which may be visible as a widening part or a ponytail that's less immense than it used to be. Most of the time, slight hair loss is just a sign that your body's growing new and healthy ones to replace the old. As a matter of fact, losing up to 100 hairs per day is completely normal.
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Women Suffer from Hair Loss Too!
Figuring out why all of a sudden, you’re losing more hair than usual can be complicated because there are many different causes of hair loss in women. Common causes include thyroid problems and hormone imbalances. Gradual thinning on the top of the head is the most common type of hair loss. It affects both men and women.
Men tend to see a receding hairline, while women usually notice that their part widens. And then, there are Bald Spots. They may be circular or patchy and may come in the size of coins, they usually appear on the scalp. Your skin may even feel itchy or painful immediately before the hair falls out.
A woman may experience very sudden hair loss, predominantly after emotional or physical trauma. The hair may come out quickly while you’re washing or combing it, and that usually leads to overall thinning. Stress, nutritional factors, and genetics may also have a hand in hair loss. Severe physical stress like going through childbirth, surgeries, or suffering a serious illness may lead to a type of hair loss called ‘Telogen Effluvium’.
This is a condition in which stress forces large numbers of follicles and after a few months, hair will gradually fall off. Intense emotional or physical stress could also contribute to the problem. Not just average everyday stress, but those life-changing events like a loved one’s death, divorce, and the like. Your body may suddenly stop producing hair as it focuses its resources into getting you out through the situation.
Nutrition
Maintaining and producing healthy hair relies on attaining a well-maintained nutrition. In particular, deficiencies in Iron, Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Protein have all been linked to various types of hair loss. But some medications can even cause some kind of chronic shedding. In particular, those used to control high blood pressure, Cancer, arthritis and depression are acknowledged to cause hair loss issues.
Styling and Treatments
Styling a tight braid or a tight ponytail also seem to be doing a great damage to your hair. Wearing it for a long period of time may cause a progressive thinning, which can also lead to permanent hair loss. Thermal damage from using hair straightening tools and overbleaching may damage the hair, as well. This results to Trichorrhexis Nodosa, a condition where the hair shaft is easily broken off from its weak points. Basically, anything that uses harsh chemicals on your scalp and hair can damage the hair follicle and promote hair loss. This may be prevented by avoiding ruthless procedures and by using products that are designed to help heal and rehydrate your hair and scalp.
There is a ton of treatment options for female hair loss. These include topical medications, like Minoxidil or Rogaine. Other options you may take are light therapy, hormone therapy or in some cases, hair transplants.
Treatments
Minoxidil or Rogaine, is a topical medication that is used to cure female pattern hair loss and male-pattern baldness. At the start, it was developed to treat blood pressure and was used off-label to treat hair loss until it became FDA-approved for that purpose. Minoxidil may slow down the progression of hair loss. Most women who started to use the medication were reported to experience a regrowth of hair. The medication is required to be taken continuously to show more visible results.
Low-level Light Therapy (LLLT) amplifies the effects of other hair loss treatments, such as minoxidil. But it may not be a sufficient treatment for hair loss on its own. The lasers are accessible for home use and in doctor's offices. The therapy must be undergone for between 2 to 4 months before results start to present themselves. Laser therapy is an alternative to medication and hair transplant surgery.
Conditioning
As much as there are a lot of procedures that you may avail for treating hair loss, there is also an alternative (and a more inexpensive) way to help bring back that hefty mane of yours. Washing your hair as much as needed, but not overdoing nor underdoing it, as these may affect the volume of your hair. Washing it too much will strip off its natural oils and nutrients that it needs to keep that vibrance and bounce. Not washing enough will cause a product buildup and makes it prone to damage and hair fall.
Conditioners make your hair shinier and reduces the risk of static electricity. Using them makes your hair look fuller and glossier but remember to use only enough. If your hair tends to be dry and brittle, an occasional deep-conditioning mask may be just what it needs to regain some life and strength.
Styling your hair is totally fine, but make sure to apply some gentleness to it as well. Try not using heat, as it causes shedding and breakage. Avoiding heat styling will go a long way in helping your hair to keep its vibrancy. Choosing hairstyles also help but be careful to choose the ones that do not put too much pressure on your hair and scalp.
Tight braids, dreads and ponytails may cause a great of damage when worn for long periods. If your husband or partner need some help with resolving their hair loss issues, then please get them to check out my number 1 recommendations here.
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