Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

Female Pattern Baldness

The most common cause of hair loss in women is actually the same cause as it is in men: female pattern baldness. There is a condition called androgenetic alopecia that happens when testosterone (women have testosterone in their bodies too) travels to your hair and causes a reaction. This reaction of chemicals called DHT causes the hair to fall out. Usually this cause of hair loss in women does not occur until later in life and because of female hormones that counteract the testosterone, the hair loss is not as drastic and noticeable as it is when men lose their hair.

Telogen Effluvium

The second most common cause of hair loss in women is called Telogen Effluvium, more commonly known as stress. Have you ever heard the saying, "stress will make your hair fall out?" Well, it is true! When you experience any kind of traumatic event that shocks your system, the resulting stress of that event will interrupt your hair growth cycle by blocking the vitamins and nutrients that your hair needs to grow from reaching their destination, which is ultimately your hair. This will result in your hair beginning to thin and fall out. Having a baby is a good example of an event that can shock your body system and cause enough stress on your body to interrupt your hair growth cycle. It really makes sense that this cause of hair loss in women is very common.

Alopecia Areata

The third most common cause of hair loss in women is called Alopecia Areata. This condition occurs when the hair loss is not total, but only happens in certain spots. This can happen on your head or on other parts of your body. There is not very much known about this particular cause of hair loss in women, but it is possible that it is caused by immune deficiencies. Sometimes, however, the hair in these spots will grow back, but other times it will not. More research is needed to know for sure what causes this type of hair loss in women.

Even though this is a mostly cosmetic issue for women, hair loss can still be a serious condition and should not be ignored.

Besides good looks, hair is a defining point in personal style. Women panic at the sight of lose hair on pillows or seeing hair go down the drain with shampoo. However, more and more women experience hair loss and the causes may be quite different to those that cause balding in men. What exactly causes hair loss in women? To understand this, we need to know how hair grows.

Hair Growth Cycle

According to dermatologists, our hair grow at about one- and- a- half inch each month. Each hair has a growth phase of two to six years. At some point, the strand of hair takes time out, "rests" a bit and then falls out. From the follicle of the fallen hair, a new strand springs out, and the cycle continues well into our later years of life. However, in some people, this growth life cycle of the hair is disrupted due to hormonal imbalances, iron deficiency, thyroid disease, and excessive stress due to surgery, childbirth; nutritional deficiency, and severe emotional problems.

Hair loss in women, unlike men, can happen at any age. In men, hair loss is generally attributed to genetic reasons coupled with age. In men, the hair loss is on the temples, the crown and the bald patch at the back of the head. Hair loss in women is usually around the whole top of the head.

It is well known that a large number of drugs cause "telogen effluvium" which means that the hair is at a resting stage for several months and then shreds. When medication is stopped, the hair starts growing again. Different drugs that cause hair loss in women are warfarin and heparin, dilantin, xyloprim, blood pressure medication, medication that lower cholesterol, mood altering drugs, chemotherapy, thyroid medicines, oral contraceptives, diets pills and street drugs like cocaine. Hair loss in women caused by these drugs often go undiagnosed.

It is vital for doctors to get to the root of the problem of hair loss in women before prescribing treatment. Correct diagnosis is the number one rule for treating hair loss in women. If there is an underlying physical or mental problem, then that has to be treated first. Diagnosis and corrective treatment of such problems can preclude the need for any additional hair loss treatment.

The most common cause of hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia. Hair loss over an extended period of time is more likely to be genetic and sudden loss of hair could be attributed to medication or mental problems.

Normal Hair Loss After Pregnancy

Hair loss after pregnancy is a common occurrence. For first time mothers, it can be stressful if they do not understand that hair loss is common condition, experienced by many women. The distressing effects of hair loss after pregnancy can be lessened if a woman is informed about the potential for this temporary condition.

The appearance of a woman is enhanced during her pregnancy. A woman's appearance is enhanced through the vibrant quality of her skin and her thicker hair. The enhancing effects of the extra hormones coursing through a woman's pregnant body have caused many people to remark on the beauty of pregnant women.

Effects Of Higher Levels Of Estrogenic Hormones On Hair

The levels of the estrogenic hormones are at higher levels than when a woman is not pregnant. These high levels of hormones are necessary to help a woman's body provide for the needs of the growing baby in her womb. These estrogenic hormones cause a pregnant woman's hair to remain on her scalp longer than usual.

In the normal process of hair loss, 90% of hair is in a growth stage. The other 10% is in a resting stage. Hair remains in a resting stage for about three months. It falls out and a new hair grows in the same spot.

During pregnancy, the estrogenic hormones slow down the hair growth process. In this way, less hair enters the resting stage. In addition, new hair continues to grow as part of the normal hair growth cycle. These two facts, older hair that is not falling out and the growing new hair, mean that there is more hair on the head.

After The Baby Is Born

After the baby is born, the estrogenic hormone levels in the woman's body go back down to their normal levels. It takes about three months for this process to occur. The time length can vary, but if hair loss is going to occur, it will happen at the end of about three months after the baby is born.

Some women may experience more hair loss after pregnancy than other women. Some women do not lose much or any hair. For some women, the hair can fall out in little clumps, which can be distressing.

It will take another three months for the hair that has been lost to grow back. For a time, among the hair that is growing back, there may be shorter hair than long hair in a growth stage. Depending on how much hair was lost, this may feel like longer than three months. It can take up to a year before a woman's hair is back to its pre-pregnancy fullness, depending on how much hair was lost after childbirth.

Hair loss after pregnancy is normal and if a pregnant woman prepares for possible hair loss after childbirth, the effects will not be as surprising. It is even possible to prepare for hair loss after pregnancy if a woman thinks that it may happen to her.