Hair Loss in Women Over 40

Healthy hair is a sign of healthy body. Hair is also a sign of beauty in women. However, with the use of so many hair products these days, hair loss in women over 40 is becoming more and more common. Many times it is noted that women do not approach a dermatologist to find the underlying cause of the problem, but seek advice from their health care professionals on thinning of hair. These health care professionals are not well equipped to diagnose the problem and categorize the problem either as a 'hormonal problem' or as 'hereditary thinning'. If hair starts thinning all over, it is called 'female pattern baldness'.

Hair Loss Causes in Women Over 40

Hair loss is usually related to hormone levels in the body, and this pattern of hair loss is termed as Androgenetic alopecia. Approximately 50% of the women suffer from this problem. This condition is caused by two enzymes called aromatase and 5-a reductase. Androgenetic alopecia is classified as an immune system problem, and the severity of the problem varies in different women. It can manifest as small round hair loss patches in some women, that regrows without any medical treatment; or in chronic extensive hair loss. In chronic extensive hair loss, the loss of hair is observed not only on the scalp, but also on other parts of the body. In androgenetic alopecia, hair loss is predominantly observed on the crown of the head and on the sides of the head.

Another condition which can cause hair loss in women is Alopecia areata. In this condition, the hair follicles are attacked by the white blood cells. If the problem is a mild problem, appropriate treatment can bring about great improvement, but in severe cases, it is very difficult. However, in both, the milder version and the severe version, there is no way for it to be cured 100%.

Men and women have both male and female hormones, but the amount varies. The male hormones are known to cause androgenetic alopecia. It should not be assumed that as women have this hormone in larger quantities, it is causing the problem. The actual cause is that some women are more sensitive to the hormone. If a woman is suffering from any medical condition, she may be sensitive to the male hormones like testosterone, and this may be causing the problem.

The other cause of hair loss in women over 40 is due to diabetes. It is caused due to elevated androgen levels in the body. This type of diabetes is very commonly observed in women. If the thyroid glands are not functioning properly, it can result in compromised protein levels in the body. As all of us are aware that hair is primarily made up of protein, it comes as no surprise that a depletion of protein levels in the body can cause hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies like protein, iron, Vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, etc. often give rise to hair loss in women.

High amount of stress can also lead to hair loss. It can also be due to a mid-life crisis. Eating a very acidic diet often stresses out the body defenses and this is more common as a person grows older.

Treating Hair Loss in Women Over 40

The first step in hair loss treatment is to undertake special blood tests to check the androgen levels in the body. These tests will help in assessing the exact cause of the problem. There are a number of hair loss immunomodulating therapies that are used to treat the problem. There are also some over-the-counter applications which can be used to treat the hair loss problem.

At the same time, it is important to note that drugs used to treat cancer, high blood pressure, antidepressants, birth control pills, and blood thinners can all lead to hair loss. Overdose of Vitamin A can also give rise to hair loss. Therefore, if a woman is on any one of these medications, she should talk to her health care professional to find a cure to her problem.

Among the various other available treatments are hair replacement surgeries, hair additions and hair transplants. The results of each of these therapies is different for different people. There are also a number of natural hair loss remedies. The results of these remedies are also different for different people.

To assess the cause of hair loss do not waste any time and visit a dermatologist. He will be in a better position to tackle the problem. With the tests he conducts, the exact cause of the problem can be assessed and the exact treatment rendered.