Causes Of Female Hair Loss
Each day the average woman loses fifty to hundreds of hairs naturally; it is nature’s way of recycling to keep our hair looking fresh while serving its protective purpose. But each day millions of women worldwide suffer from female hair loss, a potentially embarrassing and emotionally damaging condition brought on by a number of things. Here’s a look at some of the most common causes of female hair loss and what you can do about them.
Telogen Effluvium
Caused by pregnancy, surgery, drastic weight loss, medications (anti-depressants, NSAIDs, etc.) or severe stress, this cause for women’s hair loss is characterized by the daily shedding of large amounts of hair, typically during styling, washing or combing. Hair loss in women from Telogen Effluvium usually ranges from six weeks to three months after the causation event.
Unless the event is medication (in which case your doctor should switch or lower your dosage), you’ll just have to wait it out while eliminating the causes (i.e. reduce stress, let your body adjust to weight loss, etc.).
Hereditary Hair Loss
Scientifically called androgentic alopecia, this is the most common cause of women’s hair loss. Through a gene passed down from either parent (though those with both parent’s carrying the hair loss gene are more at risk), a thinning hairline behind the bangs slowly starts developing as early as twenty years old. Some cases have been known to spread across the whole scalp.
Hypothyroidism
Most of the millions who are affected by thyroid disease are women, with their body producing low amounts of thyroid hormone. Having too little of this hormone (hypothyroidism) causes changes to the bodily functions typically regulated by the hormone, hair growth included. Along with hair becoming more brittle and breaking, women’s hair loss can also occur, especially in women over the age of fifty. Other signs include depression, fatigue, constipation and weight gain.
Lupus
The symptoms: Lupus often causes extreme fatigue, headaches, oral ulcers, and painful, swollen joints. Many people develop a butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge of the nose and become more sensitive to the sun. Other symptoms include fever; swelling in the feet and hands and around the eyes; chest pain; and anemia.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
For women who don’t eat enough foods that are rich in iron, some common symptoms can be female hair loss and heavy flow periods. This is because the blood in the body doesn’t have a sufficient amount of red blood cells which are responsible for transporting oxygen to cells all over your body (which provide energy).
In addition to women’s hair loss, iron deficiency anemia also causes weakness, paleness and fatigue along with headaches and shortness of breath during exertion. In order to cure women’s hair loss caused by iron deficiencies, eat plenty of foods which are rich in iron such as pork, beef, fish and beans. This should be taken in tandem with Vitamin C-rich foods which increases the body’s absorption of iron for maximum effect. In general, you should try to have 18 mg of iron each day (8 mg post-menopause). Iron supplements targeted directly for women’s hair loss include ingredients such as silica, biotin and L-cysteine.
Women’s Hair Loss Side Effects
Although hair loss in women doesn’t get enough coverage by the media, it is still a devastating condition that can cause depression, social anxiety, low self-esteem and reclusive behaviors. For more information on what you can do about treating female hair loss, visit our product review page and start to take your life back today.
Telogen Effluvium
Caused by pregnancy, surgery, drastic weight loss, medications (anti-depressants, NSAIDs, etc.) or severe stress, this cause for women’s hair loss is characterized by the daily shedding of large amounts of hair, typically during styling, washing or combing. Hair loss in women from Telogen Effluvium usually ranges from six weeks to three months after the causation event.
Unless the event is medication (in which case your doctor should switch or lower your dosage), you’ll just have to wait it out while eliminating the causes (i.e. reduce stress, let your body adjust to weight loss, etc.).
Hereditary Hair Loss
Scientifically called androgentic alopecia, this is the most common cause of women’s hair loss. Through a gene passed down from either parent (though those with both parent’s carrying the hair loss gene are more at risk), a thinning hairline behind the bangs slowly starts developing as early as twenty years old. Some cases have been known to spread across the whole scalp.
Hypothyroidism
Most of the millions who are affected by thyroid disease are women, with their body producing low amounts of thyroid hormone. Having too little of this hormone (hypothyroidism) causes changes to the bodily functions typically regulated by the hormone, hair growth included. Along with hair becoming more brittle and breaking, women’s hair loss can also occur, especially in women over the age of fifty. Other signs include depression, fatigue, constipation and weight gain.
Lupus
The symptoms: Lupus often causes extreme fatigue, headaches, oral ulcers, and painful, swollen joints. Many people develop a butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge of the nose and become more sensitive to the sun. Other symptoms include fever; swelling in the feet and hands and around the eyes; chest pain; and anemia.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
For women who don’t eat enough foods that are rich in iron, some common symptoms can be female hair loss and heavy flow periods. This is because the blood in the body doesn’t have a sufficient amount of red blood cells which are responsible for transporting oxygen to cells all over your body (which provide energy).
In addition to women’s hair loss, iron deficiency anemia also causes weakness, paleness and fatigue along with headaches and shortness of breath during exertion. In order to cure women’s hair loss caused by iron deficiencies, eat plenty of foods which are rich in iron such as pork, beef, fish and beans. This should be taken in tandem with Vitamin C-rich foods which increases the body’s absorption of iron for maximum effect. In general, you should try to have 18 mg of iron each day (8 mg post-menopause). Iron supplements targeted directly for women’s hair loss include ingredients such as silica, biotin and L-cysteine.
Women’s Hair Loss Side Effects
Although hair loss in women doesn’t get enough coverage by the media, it is still a devastating condition that can cause depression, social anxiety, low self-esteem and reclusive behaviors. For more information on what you can do about treating female hair loss, visit our product review page and start to take your life back today.