Female hair loss follows a different pattern than its male counterpart. It often occurs for different reasons, too. Since women view their hair as their ‘crowning glory,’ female hair loss is obviously of great cosmetic and aesthetic concern. Hair loss in women can and does cause great emotional distress. When it does occur, it is usually causes a gradual loss of hair from the crown of the scalp, causing a broadened midline parting. It may also recede from the forehead, resulting in the classic ‘widow’s peak’. Complete hair loss in women is a rare occurrence. In females, hair loss is often the result of a deficiency in endocrine hormones. Gradual or dramatic thinning of hair in women can happen after the onset of menopause. Genetic predisposition (androgenetic alopecia) is the cause of almost 90% of female hair loss. The use of oral contraceptives is often inevitable and can cause female hair loss, too. This is because birth control pills cause significant changes in a woman’s hormonal balance. In fact, stopping birth control pills can cause temporary hair loss in females too. Pregnancy and delivery also involve hormonal changes in a woman. Hair loss immediately after pregnancy should therefore not be a cause for surprise or alarm.
Causes of Female Hair Loss
There are many causes of female hair loss. There are several other factors too that can lead to female hair loss. Pregnancy for instance is one of the reasons why women can lose hair. Then there is the case of either an overactive or under active thyroid which can cause hair loss. Similarly there are a few medications which could cause hair loss as a side-effect. There are also cases when women who are using birth control pills are known to shed their hair. Inadequate protein or iron deficiency in the diet is also known to cause hair loss in women. Hair loss in women can be caused due to many such causes.
Exposure to toxic chemicals - Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of lethal and damaging chemicals which can accelerate normal hair loss and retard effects of medication and surgical restoration. This effect can result either from being a smoker or from second hand smoke.
Radiation exposure - Irradiation therapy or exposure to radiation from any source can cause localized or total hair loss, which may be permanent if the dose is high enough.
DHT and Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common causes of hair loss in women. Most women suffered from hair loss for the same reasons as men. They suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is a reaction to hormonal changes in the body. One of DHT’s main functions is to promote hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia can make you lose your hair slowly. With proper treatment, this kind of hair loss is partially reversible.
Hair Loss Symptoms
At times women who gave birth to a baby experience hair loss symptoms and this continues for two-three months. This is the time when you can see tufts of hair are coming out in your brushes and combs. After seeing those tufts instead of panicking or getting depressed simply stay calm. This is a common problem which occurs with childbirth. This whole stage is known as post-partum hair loss and it gradually rectifies itself within a few months in most cases.
Female pattern baldness results in a more evenly spread out thinning of hair. Women will notice an increased rate of hair loss. This will most likely be noticed on pillows, in the shower, hairbrushes, or even vacuum brushes. It is impossible to count the number of hairs being lost per day, but women will notice the thinning and loss of hair around the same time. Some women who have curly or thick hair may not notice the change as early. Skin and hair color also determine how easily the thinning is noticed. Someone who has light hair and dark skin will notice balding much sooner than most.
Female Hair Loss - Treatment
Female hair loss, otherwise know as Female Pattern Baldness (FPB), effects 1 out of every 4 women in the United States. Recent findings have found that the incidence of FPB has been reported to be as low as 8% and as high as 87%. And, it does appear to be as common for women as for men. Most often, menopause is the most frequent time for hair loss in women to become apparent.
For a woman to lose her hair can be even more troubling than for men. A woman with thinning hair is not generally accepted as part of the normal aging process. Society has come to expect a thick, luxurious head of hair as part of the attractiveness in women.
The most important thing to remember is to try to remain positive throughout the treatments. It may take as long as a year to begin seeing results from any form of female hair loss treatment. Start by going to a doctor, and just remember, almost everyone is affected by hair loss at some point in their life.
Rogaine is the only medication approved by the FDA to treat female hair loss. Rogaine is packaged separately for women, in a solution of 2% minoxidil. Many physicians suggest not using Rogaine while pregnant or breastfeeding. Side effects can include scalp irritation and more serious, but rare side effects if too much of the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream. Talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.
