More than 50% of all women experience hair loss at some point in their lives. In women, it usually becomes noticeable when more and more hairs are left in the brush, the shower drain, or on the pillow. Ponytails or hair lengths appear thinner than usual, and in advanced stages, the hair thins out, and the scalp becomes visibly apparent. Mostly, the parting, the forehead, or the so-called "receding hairline" areas are affected. In rare cases, bald patches also occur, such as with circular hair loss (alopecia areata).
Hair loss is defined as a daily hair loss of more than 100 hairs that lasts for an extended period. If this condition persists and the hair visibly thins out, becomes sparser, or bald patches form on the scalp, it is referred to as alopecia – pathological hair loss. The causes are diverse.
Causes of Hair Loss (Alopecia)
Inadequate hair care routine as a cause of sudden, unexplained changes in hair structure or hair loss is probably the first thing that comes to most women's minds. However, it is certain that aggressive care and styling put immense strain on every woman's hair and can indeed damage it. For example, vigorous combing, pulling, tight braiding of ponytails, and frequent coloring can promote hair breakage.
In some cases, this also leads to brittle, thin, or even falling hair. Thus, improper handling of the scalp and hair can indeed be listed as a possible cause of hair loss in women and men alike. Therefore, the advice is to integrate a gentle hair care routine into daily life to avoid excessive strain on the hair and scalp.
However, the far more common causes lie much deeper and are as diverse as the manifestations and symptoms of hair loss itself.
Thyroid disease
Certain medications
Chronic illnesses
Autoimmune diseases
Malnutrition
Severe infections like the flu
Hormonal contraceptives such as the pill
Pregnancy
To best counteract hair loss, a visit to a dermatologist or general practitioner is essential.
Hormonal Hair Loss in Women
Stress, an unhealthy lifestyle, and an unbalanced diet negatively impact hormone and nutrient balance. An imbalance in hormone levels can thus also affect hair and even stop hair growth.
When you're stressed, the concentration of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline and the perhaps better-known and notorious stress hormone cortisol increases.
Initially, this is not a major concern. Who isn't stressed occasionally?
However, in the case of prolonged stress, the increased concentration of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline has an inflammatory effect on the hair follicle. Damage to the hair root can occur, which can lead to the premature termination of the growth phase. The consequence of this termination becomes apparent after about 2-3 months. The affected scalp hair falls out. Unfortunately, the persistently elevated cortisol level can additionally lead to the inhibition of hair growth, alongside hair loss. Thus, you not only lose hair, but new hair may also not grow back for the time being.
In addition, an unbalanced diet, alongside an unbalanced hormone level, can lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. This further stresses and burdens the body. Especially iron and vitamin C are considered essential building blocks for healthy hair growth. A deficiency and the resulting inadequate nutrient supply to the follicles can also promote hair thinning.
The female cycle can also lead to significant hormonal shifts. Here, the balance between the female sex hormone estrogen and the male hormone testosterone becomes disrupted. These hormones also influence the division activity of hair follicles and the duration of the hair cycle. Even the smallest fluctuations in hormone levels can affect hair growth and lead to hair loss.
Hair loss after pregnancy or during menopause is also not uncommon. The accompanying drop in estrogen levels also leads to an unbalanced hormone level. Hormonal contraception methods like the birth control pill also significantly interfere with the hormonal balance and can therefore affect your hair.
Diffuse Hair Loss
There are many different types of pathological hair loss, but diffuse hair loss (alopecia diffusa) is the most common in women. Diffuse hair loss is characterized by a gradual, even thinning of the hair. This can be caused by a number of factors:
Aging
Hormones
Stress
Infectious diseases
Medication intake
Radiation and chemotherapy
Essentially, with diffuse hair loss, the hair follicles remain intact. If you suffer from diffuse hair loss, there are a number of treatments that can help you. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your options and chances for treatment.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is considered a rare form in women and often manifests itself in adolescence. Individual round bald patches form on the scalp or other body regions. An autoimmune disease can be the trigger. Due to a faulty regulation, the body's defense cells attack cells in the hair follicles. The result is an inflammatory reaction. Often, the disease improves on its own after a few months, so no therapy is necessary. If this is not the case, therapy with cortisone can be started for pronounced findings. Cortisone suppresses immune reactions. Furthermore, it is possible to inject cortisone under the scalp of the hairless areas if there are only a few.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Yes, it's not just men. Women also suffer from hereditary hair loss. Not as frequently as men, but this type of hair loss affects up to 42% of women.
Hereditary hair loss, called androgenetic alopecia, is caused by the inherited gene, which leads to an oversensitivity of the hair root to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The hair primarily thins and becomes sparser in the parting area. The typical receding hairline and baldness in men as a result of hereditary hair loss are only found in a few cases.
What to do for hair loss?
Suddenly thin, sparse hair is alarming. But before indiscriminately grabbing the first available products from advertising, the exact cause of hair loss should first be identified. Here, either a dermatologist or initially the family doctor is the right point of contact. Subsequently, an individual treatment plan can be created under medical supervision. If a specific medication is causing the hair loss, an alternative preparation may be tried. If diseases such as hyperthyroidism or malnutrition are the cause of hair loss, these will be treated.
Medicinal Treatment Options
Whether man or woman, there are various treatment options for hair loss.
In the case of hereditary causes, there is the option of drug treatment. For example, with the active ingredient Minoxidil. As a blood pressure lowering agent, this active ingredient in some cases allows new, strong hair to grow back.
Alopecia areata is counteracted with the local application of cortisone or dithranol.
In anti-androgen treatment against hormone-related hair loss, tablets containing anti-androgens are used. The effect of the male hormone on the hair roots is thus blocked, blood circulation to the scalp is promoted, and hair growth is stimulated.
Hair transplantation
If severe hair loss cannot be counteracted, hair transplantation is an option. Here, autologous hair is implanted into desired bald spots and can then grow independently after the procedure, closing bald spots on the skin.
It is important to note, however, that such an intervention is a cosmetic surgery, which usually has to be self-financed and can also entail side effects. Swelling and water retention may occur, or individual grafts may fall out again.
This operation should therefore be carefully considered and viewed as a last resort.
Tips for preventing hair loss in women
But what can women do to prevent unwanted hair loss? A severely underestimated reason for pathological hair loss is stress. Stress robs your body of many vitamins and nutrients essential for healthy hair growth. Therefore, largely reduce "stress triggers" and make sure to process accumulated adrenaline. To best manage this, you need to exercise regularly. This can be as simple as going for a walk, practicing yoga, or cycling. Additional sports further support these processes.
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Smoking habits and alcohol consumption should also be reconsidered. These further stress the body and deplete valuable nutrients.
Fundamentally: Pay attention to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Address deficiencies as quickly as possible. In the case of hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause, pay increased attention to the increased need and/or supplement essentials.
Another option is to take FullHair Hair Capsules. Find out more here.