Hair loss is an issue that affects both men and women but its not one that women like to talk or have anyone else know is something that they are dealing with. So all too often women who are losing their hair spend a small fortune on various products and potions to disguise the problem rather than trying to discover what the cause of their hair loss might be and if there is anything that medical science – or anything else – can do to help combat the problem.
Hair Loss Causes
There are a number of reasons for hair loss in women (and men) of all ages. Some of them result in hair loss that is temporary and a hair loss problem that will almost “fix itself” over time while other causes result in a permanent hair loss that is far harder to treat. Here is a little information about the most common causes of hair loss:
Hormone Issues
There is one pesky hormone in the human body, dihydrotestosterone or DHT as it is more commonly known, that really does not like hair very much at all. It is a form of the male testosterone hormone but it is also present in smaller quantities in women. When it comes to hair over the last few decades medical science has discovered that it loves to kill hair follicles, resulting in the male or female “pattern baldness” that is so distressing for so many people.
With it now being understood that hormonal imbalances can be the culprit responsible for hair loss consulting with a specialist may result in treatments to help balance the hormones out and slow, or even stop, the hair loss.
Trauma
A trauma to the body – an injury, an illness or even a surgery – can cause a form of temporary hair loss that can affect people of any age. The phenomenon is called telogen effluvium and in basic terms the trauma the body goes through causes many of the hairs on the head to shift from the growing phase to the resting phase all at once. That often means that about 3 months later all of these hairs will fall out at once as well. The good news in this case however is that new hair usually grows right back and the hair loss is not an issue any longer.
Female Pattern Baldness
Medically known as androgenetic alopecia, female pattern baldness usually results in an overall thinning of the hair all over the head rather than the patchy thinning and hair loss that most males experience.
There are many different causes of female pattern baldness. It is believed that genetic predisposition can be a factor and hormonal balance – often caused by a female taking birth control pills – can be a cause as well.
Another form of alopecia – the patchy kind that results in patches of hair loss – is less understood. This can result in a loss of body hair as well as hair on the head and the onset can be very sudden. Some recent research has indicated that there may be a connection to an immune system disorder but that evidence is far from conclusive.
Traction Baldness
Did you ever hear that always wearing tour hair in a tight pulled back style could make you bald? The fact is that there is a grain of truth in that statement. Pulling hair too tight will cause some localized trauma to the hair follicles over time and may result in hair loss. Tight braids and extensions are the biggest culprits.
These are just a few of the common causes of hair loss, there are many others. The important thing for women experiencing hair loss to remember is that they are not alone and that there is no “shame” in seeking help and treatment for the problem.
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