Cause of Hairloss in Woman

Defining the Cause of Hair Loss in Woman

The hair loss woman is faced with some tough decisions. Society has placed a great deal of social and cultural importance on hair. In fact, appearence has become important in all our lives. For women and men, and attractive, youthful appearance can provide the confidence needed to fully develop our personalities, to motivate us to instill in us the psychic and physical vigor that gives us a zest for our everyday activities.

In short it can be crucial to our success both socially and in business.

Hair loss can begin any time after puberty in women. Although it's more common as they get older, especially around the time of menopause, when the male hormones have more of an effect on their scalp. The hair loss woman, young and mature, are increasingly suffering from very noticeable hair loss, and they need answers and treatment.

Hair loss patterns differ in women, this is something that most women are'nt informed about. They think they have the same pattern as men. But women have more of a centralized, diffused thinning on the top of the scalp, sparing the frontal hairline. they usually keep the frontal hairline, most of the hair loss is in the center part of the scalp, and it could advance and get thinner with time.

Genetic related or Androgenetic hair loss is a very common form of thinning hair in women, because women inherit the genes for hair loss as men do, so that's why it's called androgenetic. It's a combination of androgens, which are male hormones, and the genes that we inherit are from both sides of the family. Not just from mother's side, but from father's side as well. For some people it may be very mild, for other's it may be very severe.

This can effect a large proportion of women. Usually more prominently in their 20s and 30s. But again, it can also start to manifest and have signs noticed in the perimenopausal stages, when male hormones are coming to the the foreplay with regards to the ovaries and the changes in the ovaries with menopause coming about. So you may start to see a widened part area. When you part the hair down the center of the scalp, you'll start to see more visible scalp. The part doesn't look as tight as it used to.

Male pattern baldness is typically a receding hairline with a bald spot in the back. the women get see-through hair. You have a hair line, the hair line stays there, but behind it you see mostly scalp.

About 90 percent of a person’s scalp hair is in resting phase that lasts between two and three months. At the end of its resting stage, the hair is shed. Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is considered normal. When a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle located just below the skin surface. Scalp hair grows about one half inch a month.

Hair is mostly made up of a form of protein, (keratin) the same material found in fingernails and toenails.

Causes of Abnormal Hair Loss

Hair loss can be due to many different causes. People who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing, or whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a dermatologist. Its important to find the cause and whether or not the problems will respond to medical treatment. Dermatologists who specialize in treating diseases of the hair and skin, will evaluate a patients hair problem. By asking questions about diet, medications taken within the last six months, family history of hair loss, any recent illness and hair care habits.

The Dermatologist may ask a female patient about her menstrual cycles, pregnancies and menopause. After examining a patients scalp and hair, he may check a few hairs under the microscope. Laboratory tests may be required which sometimes include examining a small sample of scalp under a microscope.

A number of non-androgenetic factors may be responsible for hair loss in women. Women's hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions. Since systemic problems often cause a diffuse type of hair loss pattern that can be confused with genetic balding, it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss, especially of the diffuse or un-patterned type, be properly evaluated.

Among the many medical conditions that can be some causes of abnormal hair loss are: anemia, thyroid disease, other endocrine problems (especially those that produce excess androgens), gynecological conditions- such as ovarian tumors, connective tissue disease (such as lupus), surgical procedures and general anesthesia, rapid weight loss or crash diets that are not nutritionally balanced, and severe emotional stress.

It is also important to review the use of medications that can cause hair loss: oral contraceptives, thyriod medication, blood pressure medication ( such as beta-blockers or water pills, mood medication such as litium, prozac, or tri-cyclic antidepressants, blood thinners such as heparin or coumadin, cholesterol lowwering medication, anti-inflammatory drugs such as cortisone, vitamin A or tryptophan in high doses, street drugs (such as cocaine)

Localized Hair Loss

There are other causes of hair loss in women that are relatively common. Hairstyles that exert constant pull on the hair, such as corn rows or tightly woven braids produce a characteristic pattern called Traction Alopecia that can be identified by a rim of thinning or baldness along the the frontal hairline and temples, these areas are the most sensitive, including the nape area. Once this type of hair loss occurs it may be permanent. Fortunately this condition can usually be treated by hair replacement surgery.

Many women use chemical treatments on their hair, like permanent hair color, lightners, relaxers, and permanent waves. These treatments rarely damage hair if they are done correctly by a licensed professional.

However hair can be become weak and break if any of these chemicals are used to often and hair becomes over processed. When hair is wet, it is more fragile, you should be using a wide tooth comb and detangling spray. Excessive heat and round brush drying from wet to dry can be damaging to hair if hair is fragile, overprocessed, or fine in texture. Every technique is not right for every one. Discuss this with your professional. You might want to consider a Wrapp or roller set for the health of your hair.

One of the worst accelerators of hair loss is the quick weave, or wefting and bonding. Mostly by not using a proper adhesive remover. Vaseline or oil spray may not work on all of the glues, and when you try to remove the weft without a superior releasing solvent you wind up pulling the growth hair right out of the scalp, root and all...Make sure your stylist has the proper remover.

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