Understanding the Causes of Hair Loss in Women
Although we may not really be aware of it, hair loss in women is just as common as male hair loss. Yes, we do not really see bald women very often but the fact is that at some point in time women tend to lose their beautiful hair. In most cases, the causes of female hair loss is closely related to hormonal changes such as the rise of testosterone, found during menopause, diet, medicates and harsh hairstyling.
A hormone that directly targets the hair during menopause is progesterone. Progesterone levels drop because of lack of ovulation in the female’s body. It compensates by producing extra androstenedione, which hampers hair growth. Hair will usually go back to its original thickness after menopause, though. Many women find that childbirth is what caused their hair loss.
Two thirds (66%) of women will have some type of hair loss in their lives. Fifty percent of women get female-pattern baldness. Thinning usually appears around the ages of 25 to 30 or 40 to 50. It usually starts with the hair shaft becoming thinner and translucent. Then the hair will start to fall out of a rate that is higher than one hundred strands a day (50-100 is normal hair loss per day).
Fortunately, most secondary causes (Telogen effluvium) of female hair loss are temporary and the hair usually grows back. The bad news is that although the causes of female hair loss may be temporary, the effect of such hair loss can be quite devastating to women. To avoid hair loss, women should therefore understand the many causes of female hair loss and strive to avoid these causes to preserve their beautiful tresses.
Stress Can Cause Female Hair Loss
One of the most common causes of female hair loss is telogen effluvium, which can be brought about by traumatic experiences of the body such as severe infection, extreme stress, childbirth, severe malnutrition and the likes. According to experts, the shedding of hair can occur about three weeks after the stressful or traumatic experience on the body. In most cases, hair loss at this point can be mild to moderate. However, there are some women who do experience severe hair loss. The good news here is that the effect of these stressful or traumatic events on the body is transient, meaning, it does not really last long. A few weeks or months after the stressful or traumatic event, the body recovers and so does the hair. In most cases, the hair will grow back again within a few months.
Another common cause of female hair loss is traction alopecia, which is the result of too much styling, pulling and tight braiding of the hair. Braiding the hair tightly can weaken the foundation of the hair and may damage the scalp. To prevent such damage, it would be better to just simply wear your hair loose. If you must braid your hair, try not to pull it too tightly. You should also try to avoid constant styling of your hair. Yes, nicely styled hair can make you feel more beautiful and confident but it can also make you bald in the long run. Studies show that the harsh chemicals used in hair styling can damage your hair and your scalp.
Finding what has caused your hair loss will greatly increase your chances of finding the right treatments to help re-grow your hair.
———————–
For examples/demonstration of successful results, please see our Hair Transplant Case Studies. And we invite you to read our Patient Testimonials.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about Hair Transplant Surgery. To ask your specific questions, please Contact Us or request a Free Consultation on your case.
