30 million women experience some sort ofhair loss and usually are lost on how and why they are losing their hair. Hair loss can take place when female hormones become unbalanced. Although hormones run on a cycle, a man’s testosterone levels drop as they age which aids in hair loss.
Females on the other hand, see a severe drop in hormonal levels when they reach menopause. The combination of our hair and hormones and their cyclical nature explains how hair loss can speed up in a short interim period while a patient is being treated.
Common Causes of Women’s Hair Loss:
Andogenetic Alopecia
Women who experience diffuse thinning in all regions of their scalp are usually diagnosed with androgenic alopecia. Strangely, men seldom experience diffuse thinning but do experience definite baldness patterns. However, women can experience two kinds of patterns. When women suffer from androgenic alopecia it is caused by the activity of androgens inside the body. This activity is often associated with things like birth control pills, ovarian cysts, menopause and pregnancy. The DHT levels aren’t the only culprits and often the disease is hereditary.
Telogen Effluvium
When you experience a trauma such as labor, ailing health, disease, surgery, or compelling anxiety a huge percentage of your growing (anagen phase) and resting (catagen phase) hair will begin to shed. Telogen effluvium (shedding phase) can set in from several weeks to months after a traumatic event. Patients have lost fistfuls of hair at once during the peak time of telogen effluvium. Typically, anyone suffering from TE will grow out of this phase as long as they avoid stress. However, this chronic condition can last for months or years without knowing exactly what is causing the hair loss.
Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium happens when the hair follicle is damaged to the point that it weakens its metabolic movement. This balding is typically connected with cancer patients going through chemotherapy. The purpose of chemotherapy is to attack dividing cancer cells and unfortunately it attacks all of your dividing cells including hair follicles in the growth (anagen) stage. This causes any follicles within the anagen stage to fall out.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is the result of repetitive injury to the hair follicles and is caused by continuously wearing hair up in a tight ponytail, tight braids, extensions, and cornrows. Early detection and prevention will allow the hair to grow back.
You can learn more about women’s hair loss and what you can do about it! Take our free hair loss quiz, or contact our team at New Look Institute for a free, private consultation.
Surveyed by Paul J. McAndrews, MD
Photo Credit: Bart via Flickr Creative Commons
