Women's Hair Loss Causes and Solutions

Long, short, bouncy, or sleek, for most women hair is way more than a bundle of fibers. It's an expression of your style and personality. But if you start to lose your hair, it can really freak you out.

HAIR LOSS (OR ALOPECIA) ISN'TJUST FOR THE GUYS
Female Pattern Hair Loss is more common than you think. While nearly half of men will experience pattern hair loss by age 50, nearly half of women will as well by age 60.

A woman's chances of experiencing hair loss increase with age

Women often begin to see thinning behind the hairline with a progressive widening of the part. It might thin all over, or your center part could get wider and

wider. You might even get a bald spot at the crown of your head.

DAD MAY NOT BE TO BLAME
There are many factors in hair loss. While genetics can play a role, hair loss is often the result of many converging issues.

Extreme Stress
High-level physical or emotional stress can cause you to suddenly shed huge amounts of hair. Such as:

Serious illness or major surgery
Trauma involving blood loss
Severe emotional distress
The process may last 6 to 8 months

Crash Diets
You may lose more than weight with a fad diet. And if you drop 15 pounds or more, you might also shed some hair a few months down the road. Don’t worry too much -- it’ll return when you’re back on a healthy diet. Be prepared to shed some locks if you’re getting too much vitamin A or not enough protein.

Tight Hairstyles
It’s no myth: Wearing cornrows or tight ponytails can irritate your scalp and cause hair to fall out. The same goes for using tight rollers. Let your hair down, and it should grow back normally. Be aware that long-term use of these styles can scar your scalp and lead to permanent hair loss.

The Pill
The hormones that suppress ovulation could cause your hair to thin. It’s more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. It might happen when you stop taking the pill. Other drugs linked to hair loss include blood thinners and medicines that treat high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and depression.

Childbirth
You might notice your hair seems fuller during pregnancy. That’s because high hormone levels keep resting hairs from falling out. But after the baby comes, things go back to normal and those strands will fall out quickly. You could lose a lot of hair at once. It could take up to 2 years for your locks to return to normal.

Thyroid Problems
This butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck pumps out chemicals that keep your body humming along. If it makes too much or too little thyroid hormone, your hair growth cycle might take a hit. But thinner locks are rarely the only sign of a thyroid problem. You might lose or gain weight, become sensitive to cold or heat, or notice changes in your heart rate.

PCOS
If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), your hormones are always out of whack. Your body makes more male hormones, or androgen, than it should. This can cause extra hair to sprout on your face and body while the hair on your head thins out. PCOS can also lead to ovulation problems, acne, and weight gain. But sometimes thinning hair is the only obvious sign.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata causes hair to fall out in big patches. The culprit is your own immune system, which attacks healthy hair follicles by mistake. In most cases, the damage isn’t permanent. The missing locks should grow back in 6 months to a year. Some people lose all the hair on their scalp and body, but that’s rare.

Ringworm
When the ringworm fungus affects your scalp, it triggers a distinct hair loss pattern -- itchy, round bald patches. They might also look scaly and red. Your doctor will treat it with antifungal medication. It’s easy to spread by direct contact, so check your family members for symptoms, too.

Cancer Treatment
Chemo and radiation therapy, two of the most widely used therapies, can take a toll on your hair. In their quest to kill cancer cells, both can harm hair follicles and trigger dramatic hair loss. But the damage is almost always short-lived. Once your treatment is finished, hair usually grows back.

LOOK FOR THE SIGNS
You may not be aware when hair loss first begins.

Increase in hair lost in shower or bathing
Ends of hair begin to look and feel wispy
The part in your hair seems to get wider
Hair feels like it's losing volume & body

YOU'RE NOT ALONE & SOLUTIONS
Millions of women face hair loss. lf you're one of them- you're certainly not alone.

2 easy solutions for thinning hair
Hairstyles
Ask your stylist. She might suggest a short cut, a different part, maybe a gentle body wave. Try a styling product for thin hair to hide bare spots. Apply it to the root area then gently blow dry to build volume. Let your hair air dry for a while before you use the dryer. Special cosmetics can disguise parts of your scalp that show.

Human hair Products
How to Handle Major Hair Loss? Well, it can be a challenge. If thin areas are easy to spot, consider the clip-in hair extensions, a hairpiece, a lace closure, or a premium lace wigs. Compared with synthetic hair, human Hair offers the most natural look and feel.

Modern medical technology also offers a number of safe, effective and reliable ways to help slow the progression of hair loss.

Medicine
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is approved by the FDA for female pattern hair loss. It can slow or stop it in most women and may help hair grow back. But the benefits go away when you stop using it. Corticosteroids can help regrow hair for women with alopecia areata. And if the cause is an underlying medical problem or poor nutrition, your locks should grow back on their own once things are under control.

Hair Transplants
This procedure involves moving hair to thinning scalp areas from fuller areas. The trouble is, female pattern baldness causes thin hair all over, so good donor sites may be limited. It works better if your hair loss comes from male pattern baldness or scarring.

LLLT (Low-Level Laser Therapy)
Low-level laser treatment is an option that has been used for those who are suffering from hair loss. Laser red light has been shown to be effective in stimulating and energizing the cells within the hair follicle. They're available in some clinics and for home use.

Success Story: ReHair® Laser Cap Treatment Helps Charlotte Reverse Hair Loss

Consistent use of low level laser therapy treats hair loss, hair thinning and has been proven to improve the appearance of hair quality, hair strength and hair thickness in addition to promoting hair growth.

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