Hair Fall Reasons In Female: Discover the Causes of Hair Loss in Women

Are you noticing your hair part getting wider? Are there bald patches appearing or are you losing more than 125 hairs every day? These signs could mean that you’re experiencing hair loss. Don’t wait, consult a dermatologist now! There are different types of hair loss with many possible causes. While prevention is limited, early consultation with a dermatologist can lead to effective treatment options. Take action and regain control of your hair!

Understanding Hair Loss in Women

Hair loss in women is a distressing and significant problem. We naturally lose 50 to 100 hairs every day as part of the hair growth cycle. But when this balance is disrupted, more hair falls out than grows back, leading to alopecia. Hair can grow on almost all parts of your skin except for your hands, feet, lips, and eyelids. There are two types of hair: vellus hair that’s light and fine, and terminal/androgenic hair that’s thicker and longer.Understanding the Phases of Hair Growth:

1. Anagen Phase (Growing Phase): This initial phase is responsible for hair growth and can vary in duration, lasting anywhere from two to eight years. Remarkably, approximately 85% to 90% of the hair on your head is usually in this phase at any given time. It’s during the anagen phase that hair actively grows, and hair follicles are at their healthiest.
2. Catagen Phase (Transition Phase): Following the anagen phase, hair enters the catagen phase, which is relatively brief, spanning approximately two to three weeks. During this period, hair follicles undergo a contraction or shrinkage.
3. Telogen Phase (Resting Phase): The telogen phase, lasting around two to four months, marks the final stage of the hair growth cycle. In this phase, hair is in a state of rest, and it is normal for hair to shed at the end of this period, making way for new hair to grow. The natural hair loss process mainly occurs during this phase.

Did you know that the hair on different parts of your body has varying growth phases? For instance, eyelashes, arm and leg hair, and eyebrows have a short anagen phase of about one month. But guess what? Hair on your scalp can continue to grow for an extended period, potentially up to six years or more!

 

Exploring the Types of Hair Loss:

1. Anagen Effluvium: This hair loss is caused by toxic medications or treatments, like chemotherapy, that harm growing hair follicles. It leads to sudden shedding of hair.
2. Telogen Effluvium:<span data-preserver-spaces=”true”> Telogen effluvium occurs when multiple hair follicles simultaneously enter the natural phase of hair loss, known as the telogen phase. This can be triggered by factors such as stress, illness, childbirth, or dietary changes. Get ready to say goodbye to your locks!
3. Female Pattern Hair Loss<span data-preserver-spaces=”true”>, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia or Baldness, is the most common type of hair loss among women. It causes thinning hair on the top and sides of the head. This condition is influenced by genetics and hormonal changes, specifically the impact of male hormones on hair follicles. Over time, it can lead to permanent hair loss for some individuals.

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Exploring Hair Loss in Women: Essential Insights

Believe hair loss is a concern solely for men? Think again. Surprisingly, over 50% of women will encounter noticeable hair loss at some stage in their lives. The primary villain behind this phenomenon is Female-Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), impacting an astonishing 30 million women in the United States alone. Could you be susceptible as well?

Hair loss is a universal problem that can impact women of any age. However, it tends to be more widespread among certain groups:

1. Women aged 40 and above.
2. Recent mothers who have undergone post-pregnancy changes.
3. Individuals who have undergone chemotherapy or other medication-related treatments.
4. Those who frequently engage in hairstyles that exert tension on the hair, such as tight ponytails or braids, or employ harsh chemicals in their hair care routines.
5. Menopausal women experiencing hormonal shifts.

Let’s Debunk Hair Loss Myths:

1. Hair Washing and Styling: Forget the misconception that frequent hair washing or experimenting with color and perms causes hair to fall out. It’s simply not true.
2. Dandruff and Stress: Don’t fret over dandruff or stress as culprits of permanent hair loss in women. While they can affect hair health, they don’t lead to extreme hair loss.
3. Shaving and Circulation: Shaving your head won’t magically result in thicker hair, and standing on your head won’t supercharge growth by boosting circulation.
4. Hair Brushing: Contrary to popular belief, brushing your hair a hundred times a day won’t automatically make it healthier.
5. Hats and Wigs: Wearing hats or wigs won’t cause you to lose precious hair strands. It’s simply a myth!
6. Intellectual Women: Hair loss doesn’t discriminate based on intelligence or social status. It can affect any woman, regardless of their background.

What typically causes hair loss in women?

Unlocking the Causes of Hair Loss and Their Impact on Your Tresses

1. Hairstyling Choices: The way you style your hair can inadvertently lead to hair loss, especially when it involves tight hairstyles like ponytails, braids, or cornrows. This type of hair loss is referred to as ‘traction alopecia’ and can result in permanent damage to hair follicles if not addressed promptly.
2. Vitamin Deficiency: A lack of essential vitamins in your diet can contribute to hair loss, emphasizing the significance of maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet.
3. Dieting: Rapid weight loss and restrictive diets can trigger hair loss as the body’s nutritional balance is disrupted during the process.
4. Over-Processed Scalp Hair: Excessive use of harsh chemicals or treatments can weaken the hair, leading to breakage and potential hair loss.

Understanding the Specifics:

Anagen Effluvium Hair Loss:<span data-preserver-spaces=”true”> This form of hair loss is typically induced by exposure to toxic substances, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or certain medications. It results in sudden hair loss while the hair is in the growth phase and can sometimes lead to permanent damage to the hair follicles.

Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss:<span data-preserver-spaces=”true”> Temporary hair loss can occur due to extreme physical stress or shock to the body, including rapid weight loss, surgery, illness, or childbirth. Additionally, extreme emotional stress, medical conditions like abnormal thyroid function, certain medications, and hormonal changes related to pregnancy, menopause, or birth control pills can all contribute to this type of hair loss.

Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL): Genetic factors play a significant role in FPHL, as family history can lead to thinning hair along the top of the head. Aging and hormonal changes, particularly during menopause when estrogen levels decrease, can exacerbate this type of hair loss.

Other Hair Loss Conditions:

• Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune skin condition that causes patchy hair loss on the scalp and potentially other areas of the body. It is usually not permanent and can vary in severity.

How does menopause relate to hair loss in women?

Understanding Hair Changes During Menopause

During menopause, your hair undergoes distinct changes. Some women notice new hair growth in unexpected areas, while others experience thinning of their existing hair. These transformations are directly linked to the fluctuating hormone levels during this stage. As estrogen and progesterone decrease, the influence of male hormones called androgens becomes more prominent. 

Post-menopause, you’ll likely observe that your hair becomes finer and thinner due to the contraction of hair follicles. This results in slower growth and increased vulnerability to shedding.

Seeking Professional Guidance:

To unlock the secrets of your changing hair, consult a healthcare provider. They’ll delve deep into your medical history and conduct thorough examinations to decipher what’s really going on. Testing for iron and thyroid hormone levels will reveal any hidden culprits behind these changes. And if necessary, they’ll even tweak your medications to combat hair loss or stimulate growth. Trust them to find the answers you seek!

Recognizing Signs of Hair Loss in Women:

1. Increased Daily Shedding: You may notice a higher volume of hair falling out during routine activities, such as brushing, showering, or resting your head on pillows.
2. Thinning or Missing Hair Patches: Visible areas of thinner or missing hair, including a widening part on the top of your head, can indicate hair loss.
3. Scalp Visibility: When the scalp becomes visible through the hair, it may be a sign of thinning.
4. Reduced Ponytail Size: The circumference of your ponytail may diminish as your hair becomes thinner.
5. Hair Breakage: Breakage of hair strands can also contribute to the overall appearance of hair loss.

Diagnosis and Tests

How Does a Healthcare Provider Diagnose and Address Hair Loss in Women?

To accurately diagnose hair loss in women, healthcare providers may perform various tests, ranging from simple to more complex:

1. Hair Pull Test: Gently pulling on your hair to observe how many hairs come out, giving insights into hair shedding.
2. Blood Tests: Assessing vitamin, mineral, and hormone levels through blood tests, including vitamin D, vitamin B, zinc, iron, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones.
3. Scalp Examination: Utilizing a microscope and trichoscopy to closely examine the scalp for signs of hair loss.
4. Scalp Biopsy: Removing and examining a small piece of scalp skin to gain deeper insights into the condition.

In the diagnostic process, your healthcare provider will inquire about various aspects related to your habits, history, and observations:

• Habits: Hair products used, hairstyling practices, dietary habits, and any hair-pulling tendencies (trichotillomania).
• History: Family history of hair loss, ongoing stressors, medications, prior occurrences of hair loss, and dietary habits.
• Observations: Duration and frequency of hair loss, specific areas of thinning or missing hair, impact of hair loss on daily life, factors worsening or improving hair loss, and any changes in hair growth or breakage.

Moving to Management and Treatment:

1. Specialized Treatment: Dermatologists are often the healthcare providers specializing in hair loss treatment.
2. Tailored Treatment: Treatment is based on the cause of hair loss:

• • Addressing stress or hormonal changes, if applicable.
  • Avoiding damaging hair styling practices if they are the cause.
  • Addressing nutritional deficiencies through supplements.
  • Using approved treatments like Minoxidil (Rogaine®) or FDA-approved low light laser devices like Advanced Trichology LC Elite Laser Cap and Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet.

1. Potential Medications: While some medications like minoxidil are approved for treating Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), other medications like spironolactone, finasteride, estrogens, prostaglandin analogs, and steroids are being studied but not yet approved.
2. Hair Transplant Surgery: Considered for more severe cases, involving moving hair follicles from one part of the head to bald areas. It’s a surgical option with associated risks.
3. Innovative Treatments: PRP injections and microneedling with or without minoxidil application have shown promise in promoting hair growth.

Considerations on Side Effects:

• Minoxidil may cause scalp irritation, dryness, scaling, itching, or redness. Consult your dermatologist if this occurs.
• Minoxidil application might cause hair growth in unintended areas; exercise caution and wash your face after use.

Preventing and Managing Hair Loss in Women

Preventing hair loss in women can be challenging, especially when it’s linked to factors like disease, aging, heredity, or physical stressors such as injuries. However, there are proactive steps you can take:

1. Avoid Caustic Chemicals and Tight Hairstyles: Prevent hair loss caused by harsh chemicals or tight hairstyles by refraining from their use.
2. Maintain a Nutrient-Rich Diet: Consuming a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and protein may help prevent some types of hair loss.
3. Quit Smoking: Smoking cessation can contribute to overall health, potentially benefiting hair health as well.

Prognosis for Women with Hair Loss:

The prognosis for women with hair loss depends on the underlying cause:

• Hair shedding during anagen and telogen phases may naturally resolve over time.
• Treating any underlying diseases associated with hair loss is crucial.
• Hair loss can be concealed using wigs or hats.
• Early intervention for alopecia may slow thinning and stimulate regrowth.

Hair loss may not pose a physical threat, but its impact on emotional well-being, self-esteem, and social interactions cannot be underestimated. Recent studies have unveiled a potential link between Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) and serious conditions such as metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders, and diabetes.

Tips for Coping with Hair Loss:

There are practical strategies to address hair loss:

• Consider coloring your hair, which can add volume and create the illusion of fuller hair.
• Regularly massaging your scalp, especially during hair washing, can enhance blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles.
• Opt for shorter haircuts with layers to create the appearance of fuller hair.
• Choose the right shampoo that adds volume without sulfates.
• Use volumizing products cautiously, applying them while your hair is still wet to avoid excessive weight.

Consulting a healthcare provider promptly is crucial when you notice hair loss. Don’t wait, take action early to maximize treatment effectiveness. Engage in an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider to address your concerns. Ask important questions like: What is causing my hair loss? How many strands am I losing daily? Can you identify the specific type of hair loss I have? Is it permanent? What are the available treatment options and which one is best for me?

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing hair loss in women is crucial. Consult a dermatologist if you notice signs like wider hair parts, bald patches, or excessive shedding.

Hair loss can affect anyone, and myths surrounding it should be dispelled.

Healthcare providers diagnose and treat hair loss based on tests and evaluation.

Prevention includes avoiding harsh chemicals, maintaining a balanced diet, and quitting smoking.

Early intervention can slow thinning and improve overall well-being.

Practical tips include hair coloring and scalp massage. Consult a healthcare provider promptly for a tailored treatment plan.

References

Famenini S, Slaught C, Duan L, Goh C. Demographics of women with female pattern hair loss and the effectiveness of spironolactone therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Oct;73(4):705-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.06.063. PMID: 26369846; PMCID: PMC4573453.

Herskovitz I, Tosti A. Female pattern hair loss. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Oct 21;11(4):e9860. doi: 10.5812/ijem.9860. PMID: 24719635; PMCID: PMC3968982.

Jimenez JJ, Wikramanayake TC, Bergfeld W, Hordinsky M, Hickman JG, Hamblin MR, Schachner LA. Efficacy and safety of a low-level laser device in the treatment of male and female pattern hair loss: a multicenter, randomized, sham device-controlled, double-blind study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014 Apr;15(2):115-27. doi: 10.1007/s40257-013-0060-6. PMID: 24474647; PMCID: PMC3986893.

Le Floc’h C, Cheniti A, Connétable S, Piccardi N, Vincenzi C, Tosti A. Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Mar;14(1):76-82. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12127. Epub 2015 Jan 8. PMID: 25573272.