The shocking truth about female hair loss

The shocking truth about female hair loss

When you talk about genetic hair loss, most people think of the most common form of this problem: male pattern baldness. This is the type of hair loss that is genetically passed down from their mothers to their offspring. Most often, the recipients of this type of hair loss are men, but sometimes the gene can also cause hair loss in women.

While genetic hair loss in men is characterized by a receding hairline or bald crown, genetic hair loss in women is slightly different. In most cases, a woman doesn't just lose her hair in spots, but also thins it evenly all over her head. Sometimes this thinning can be quite severe and may require the woman to wear a wig to cover up her thinning locks. While female pattern hair loss almost never results in complete baldness, it can be extreme enough to expose the scalp quite noticeably.

For the woman who is facing this type of problem, there are some treatment options that can be explored. These include shampoos, conditioners and topical treatments such as Rogaine for Women, which stimulate growth and prevent further loss; vitamin supplements; and stimulating treatments such as massage and infrared therapy. The most successful of these treatments are the topical treatments. Although they are quite expensive, they give the best results.

Hair loss due to chemical processes

No matter how healthy and strong your hair is today, you could experience severe hair loss after undergoing a harsh chemical process such as a perm or color. While almost all chemical fallout is due to operator error, the likelihood of it occurring is multiplied by chemical treatments you perform on your hair at home. I've seen more than one case of female hair loss in clients who bleached their locks at home, over-colored them, and then came to the salon for further bleaching. Because the stylist didn't know this history, he used too strong a chemical and the process caused hair loss.

Since most of these cases do not result in complete baldness, hair loss treatment options include protein treatments and other conditioning treatments to strengthen the remaining hair; a good haircut that removes most of the damage; and a gentle hair care routine that minimizes further loss due to hair breakage. You should also avoid thermal styling devices and other chemical procedures until the hair has fully grown out.

Hair loss due to stress

Instances of severe stress can literally cause a handful of hairs to fall out at a time. Women who suffer from stressful conditions may experience problems presented by thinning all over the head or in areas called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata means “hair loss in spots or areas” and can result in bald circular patches on one or more areas of the scalp. Although this type of problem is alarming, it is not permanent. After the stress is eliminated, most sufferers of this type of problem grow back all the hair they lost.

In most cases, treatment for stress-related hair loss is minimal. After you've ruled out other causes of the problem, your doctor will likely recommend changes in your diet or ideas to reduce your stress. Keep in mind that it may take months for your hair to grow back, even after stressors are eliminated.

Hair loss due to illness

Any type of prolonged illness or surgery can cause hair loss. Medications taken to combat certain types of illnesses can also cause your hair to become brittle and break or fall out altogether. The most recognizable type of hair loss is associated with chemotherapy treatments. In most cases, this hair loss is complete and affects all areas of the body.

While there is little that can be done to prevent this type of hair loss or promote growth during illness, surgery, or chemotherapy, this type of female hair loss is also temporary. In most cases, complete recovery of hair occurs after the disease ends.

You can promote hair growth after illness by getting regular trims and using growth-promoting shampoos and conditioners. Vitamin supplements may also be beneficial.

As you may have guessed, hair loss in women is more common than we might think. And many suffer from hair loss and reject it as a natural phenomenon that comes with age. Many of these women do not seek the necessary treatment that can help them retain their remaining hair and regrow new hair. So if you have hair loss problems, don't think it's just because you're getting older. There may be something you can do to prevent the hair on your head from clogging your drain.

Inspired by Michael Barrows