Female Hair Loss

By: George Cranston

Whoever you are, hair loss is no laughing matter and is a quick way to look older and to feel less attractive. Unfortunately for men hair loss and eventually baldness is often a reality and something that many have to face, however for women this is thought to be much more unusual meaning that most will be spare from its effects, but meaning that those who do suffer with it will feel even more victimised and will be more likely to stand out.

However in reality women are actually still relatively likely to experience some hair loss and particularly thinning of the hair as they become older and this can be highly distressing. Here we will look at some of the causes of female hair loss, as well as some of the things you can do to prevent it or at least to minimise its effects.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is one of the most common causes of hair loss in both women and men and is characterised by the shedding of hairs from the scalp as well as elsewhere on the body. This is often caused by some form of intense stress on the body's hormonal system and this in itself can sometimes be a reaction to medication. This stress causes a larger number of hairs in the body to enter 'telogen' meaning the resting stage where they remain in the follicle until they get pushed out. This often has a relatively sudden onset and can occur at any age. Generally it will improve on its own, as the telogen only lasts for six months after which time the hair will begin to return. In some cases this can be a chronically re-occurring condition.

Androgenetic Elopecia

This is the main cause of male pattern baldness and may be responsible for thinning hair in women over 40 for as many as 50% of the female population. This tends to be somewhat genetic and will usually be passed down by the mother or father. Here the hair loss is caused by a chemical known as DHT made from androgens – the male hormones which is why its slightly more common and more pronounced in men. It is most likely to occur for women after menopause.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition which affects around three percent of the population. Here the hair follicles are actually attacked by the body's own white blood cells causing them to become very small. This can stop hair from growing which may last for months or years. After time some hair may return, while in other cases it may never return. While the hair follicles remain intact and could in theory be triggered to once again begin growing, it is currently unknown how this might be achieved.

The pattern of hair loss in women is different to that of men and while men might experience their hair receding as the hairline becomes further back, women are more likely to notice their hair just thinning. This makes it easy for clever hair styling to cover up some of the baldness. By keeping the hair long it is possible to cover up some of the more bald patches, or by shortening the length it is possible to make it look as though you purposefully chose that look.

In other cases you might decide that you wish to use a wig to cover up your thinning locks. This allows you to take a potential drawback and use it as a way to reinvigorate your style and to try lots of new and bold looks. If you've ever wondered what you might look like as a red head then now is the time to find out...

Source: healthguidance.org