Hair Loss in Women - Seven Reasons You Could Lose Your Hair

For many women there are few things more distressing than
the thought of going bald.  Hair loss or thinning hair is
expected in men over a certain age.  For a woman - it can
be a terrible blow to self esteem striking at the root of
her femininity.

Hair loss in women is not an uncommon condition.  Some
experts suggest that as many as one in four women - maybe
around 25 million Americans alone - experience hair loss at
some time in their lives.

So why do women suffer hair loss?

1. Hormones - We all know that men have hormones too but
women are subject to greater hormonal flux with higher
frequency and over a much longer period than men.
Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause are all conditions
unique to women that can result in thinning hair and even
total air loss.

2. Medication -  Just as for men, many modern medications,
like anti-depressants, blood thinners and anti-cholesterol
drugs can contribute directly to hair loss.  For  certain
women the birth control pill can be a contributory factor.

3. Genes -  Genetic causes of hair loss are more associated
with men but women too can suffer from female pattern
baldness, or androgenetic alopecia.  Around 15% of American
women are affected. Just as for men, dehydrotestosterone
(DHT) causes hair follicles to shut down.   The result for
women is a general thinning of hair rather than the bald
spots or receding hairline which is common in men.

4. Stress  - The effect of severe trauma can cause a major
reaction in the body resulting in sudden hair loss.
Traumatic hair loss can be physical or mental and can make
your hair fall out prematurely months after the stress is
experienced at an alarming rate - up to three to four
thousand hairs per day.   Though very upsetting sudden
traumatic hair loss is reversible.  Provided there is no
ongoing stress as a result of the initial trigger - the
body should be able to recover and the normal hair growth
cycle resumed within about 6 months to a year.

5. Illness - many common conditions, like diabetes or
thyroid disturbance, put the body under stress and
contribute directly to hair loss.

6. Hair damage - women do more to their hair than men and
some of the daily treatment we dish out to our hair can
have terrible effects.  Harsh shampoos, hair colorants,
bleaching, blow driers, straighteners - we seem to do
everything possible to cause hair stress.  The net effect
of all this can be dry damaged hair which is weak and more
brittle.  Weakened hair is more prone to break and
ultimately to fall out.

7. Dieting - Women generally diet more than men and are
more likely to go on extreme diets to shed weight.  Extreme
or nutritionally unbalanced weight loss diets can cause
hair loss. Although iron deficiency is often associated
with diet-related hair loss, a range of nutrient
deficiencies can result in thinning hair.

So - like many things in life - the causes of hair loss in
women are not straightforward.  You could suffer this
condition at any stage of your life - the important thing
is to try to identify the main causes and take action to
deal with them as soon as possible.


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Eileen Gravelle is an author and web publisher who writes
extensively on all aspects of anti aging.  Her website:
http://www.simplyantiaging.com is a complete anti aging
resource with articles, practical advice. product reviews
and celebrity features for women in their forties and
beyond who want to look younger and feel great as they get older.