Reasons for Hair Loss in Women

Losing a few strands of hair daily is quite normal for both men and women. However, excessive hair loss that results in hair thinning and bald patches is a medical condition, which is known as alopecia. It can be an indicator of several health conditions and hormonal imbalances in the body. Even improper hair care too can induce hair loss and thinning in women. Unlike men, baldness is quite rare in women. Women generally experience an overall thinning of hair on their scalp.

Causes of Hair Fall in Females

Androgenic Alopecia
Like men, women can also have this condition, which results from conversion of the male hormone androgen to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Now DHT is known to be harmful for the hair follicles and causes excessive hair loss in both men and women. While men develop baldness, women are more likely to experience diffuse thinning of scalp hair due to androgenic alopecia. The conditions that can cause androgenic alopecia in women are polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, and taking birth control pills with high androgen index.

Telogen Effluvium
This condition is one of the most common causes for hair loss in women. It causes general hair thinning in women. Telogen effluvin can result from high level of stress and trauma, that interferes in the normal cycle of hair growth. Major surgery, severe infection, extreme level of mental stress, malnutrition, as well as childbirth are some examples of some conditions that can cause hair loss in women, up to a period of 3 months from the occurrence of the particular traumatic event. However, telogen effluvium does not lead to permanent hair loss, as the hair usually returns within two to three months from the stressful event.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a medical condition where hair loss is characterized by patchy baldness and can affect the entire body, including the scalp. This is considered to be an autoimmune disorder, and found to affect both the sexes equally. According to estimates, In the United States, almost 2% of the population gets affected by this disorder. Sometimes, the lost hair returns spontaneously without any medical treatment, while at other times, hair loss can be permanent.

Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes in women too can cause hair loss temporarily. This is the case when the level of estrogen in the body decreases during menopause. During pregnancy, rising level of estrogen can induce hair growth, while the post pregnancy period is characterized by scalp hair loss in women. However, the situation usually resolves within a few months, as the hair loss experienced after pregnancy is only temporary in nature.

Low Iron Levels
Iron is an important mineral required for healthy hair, and its deficiency can induce hair loss in women. Deficiency of iron can also lead to anemia, in which case the possibility of suffering from hair loss increases. However, hair loss can also occur even if iron deficiency does not lead to anemia. Iron supplements can help, though they should be taken only after consulting a health care professional. Otherwise, too much iron can lead to some other health problems too.

In addition to all these, thyroid problems such as an overactive and under active thyroid gland, nutritional deficiency, high level of stress, over work, and excessive use hair products that contain harsh chemicals, are some other important causes behind this hair problem. To sum it all up, your hair reflects your overall health condition. So, along with using the right type of hair care products, maintain a healthy and balanced diet; rich in vitamins and minerals, reduce the level of stress, and drink plenty of water to stay healthy, so that your hair can get adequate nourishment to grow. Talk to a physician, if excessive hair loss is causing hair thinning or baldness, as this can be an indicator of some major health problem.