Hair Loss in Women

Hair loss in women is not as common a phenomenon as compared to hair loss in men. It is natural for a good proportion of men to suffer from hair loss problems around the age of thirty, but hair loss in women at that age is rare. The most common cause of hair loss is genetic, usually known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although referred to as Male Pattern Baldness, it is not unique only to men, hence the proper term for pattern baldness should be androgenetic alopecia. A receding hairline is often a sign of genetic hair loss in men whereas genetic hair loss in women differs slightly. Mostly, a woman will suffer hair loss in the form of hair thinning evenly rather than losing hair in certain areas. In some cases, this thinning can be quite bad; and while hair loss in women almost never results in a completely bald head, the thinning can be so bad that it can expose the scalp quite plainly.

Hair loss in women is not exactly the same as that suffered by men. It is commonly believed that hair loss in women is only hereditary related but this has now been proven to be incorrect. There are many factors that can cause hair loss in women and these can be more complex then the male factors.

The greatest factor in causing hair loss in women is stress. Although stress is also related to hair loss in men, it is more frequent in women. In general, women tend to be more concerned about their daily life than men and thus an increased level of stress. Is it a coincidence that when a woman is stressed-out, her hair often looks weary and unkempt? Or that when a woman is depressed, the condition of her hair often matches the way she feels. Our hair is very often a mirror of how we are feeling and there is a definite relationship between the condition of our hair and how we feel. Hence it can be concluded that stress does affect the health of our hair and can eventually cause hair loss.

Stress can cause physiological changes to our body and these changes can disrupt the balance of our body system. If the imbalance is severe or prolonged, this can upset the natural hair growth cycle thus causing excessive hair loss and delaying new growth. In this case, the treatment should not only counter hair loss, but also treat stress. Otherwise, even if hair growth is stimulated, hair loss can reoccur.

Another major cause of hair loss in women is hormonal imbalance. For a long time, scientists thought that hair loss was generally caused by the male sex hormone, testosterone. Under normal conditions, it is natural to find trace amounts of testosterone in women. But it is now known that the main cause behind hair loss is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Dihydrotestosterone is a derivative of the male hormone testosterone that decreases the size of hair follicles thus making it diffcult for hair to survive healthily. Keeping it simple, let’s just say that under certain conditions DHT wants those follicles dead and DHT is the enemy of hair follicles on your head.

Normally, women will have a tiny proportion of the level of testosterone that is found in men. But DHT may also be present even in these lower levels of testosterone, triggering hair loss in women. Since hormones function best when in equilibrium, the level of male hormones (androgens) does not necessary have to be increased to produce a problem. A lower level of female hormones will allow the androgens, such as DHT, to thrive resulting in an imbalance. This can cause many complications and problems, such as hair loss.

Hormone levels function in cycles. Men will start experiencing a decrease in testosterone levels by approximately 10% every decade from the age of 30. Hormone levels in women will start to decrease slowly approaching menopause and they will experience a sharp decrease during menopause and after. This relationship between hair and hormones is one of the major contributing factors behind hair loss.

Hair loss can also be caused by an imbalance of thyroid hormones, pregnancy, disease, and certain medications. All of which can influence the body’s natural hair growth and hair loss cycle.

Research has shown that women now make up a significant percentage of American hair loss sufferers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 40% of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40. Hair loss in women can be devastating for self image and emotional well-being.

Provillus - A Preventive Cure for Hair Loss

 

 

The information on this site is designed for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your family doctor.