Alopecia, commonly known as hair loss, happens when a woman loses more than 50 to 100 hair strands per day. This medical problem can significantly affect a woman’s wellbeing and quality of life, and it must be immediately treated before it gets intense.
For some women, hair loss and thinning happen due to genes. While for others, chemical-based shampoos, hair colouring, and styling products can be the cause. Nevertheless, the underlying causes of hair thinning and hair loss in every woman vary and they therefore need a tailored hair thinning treatment for female.
Keep reading the article below to understand the causes of hair thinning and hair loss in women and their prevention.
What Causes Hair Thinning in Women?
Problems of hair thinning and hair loss can occur abruptly or slowly. Also, while some types of hair thinning are transitory, others are continual. Listed below are some causes that trigger hair thinning problems in females.
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Stress
Stress can prevent your hair follicles from receiving vital nutrients, making them more exposed to hair thinning and hair loss. Furthermore, several dermatologists suggest that women develop Alopecia (hair loss) in the continued duration of stress or emotional shock. Hence to tackle your stress issues, consult your healthcare provider and get a suitable hair fall solution for women.
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Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes in women are common during pregnancy, menopause, childbirth or maybe due to a change in contraceptives. These hormonal changes affect the growth of hair follicles and further leads to hair thinning. Also, childbirth takes a toll on women’s bodies and causes excessive pressure, and this sometimes makes the hair follicles in women move to a dormant stage.
However, there is nothing to worry about as you can readily overcome this problem by seeing a dermatologist or trichologist and taking proper medication.
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Medication or radiation therapy
Radiation therapies, chemotherapeutic drugs, high blood pressure medications, or antidepressants can lead to hair thinning and hair loss in women. Moreover, radioactivity or chemotherapy used to cure cancer leads to drastic hair loss and hair thinning as well.
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Menopause
Menopause in women changes the production of several hormones and can usually trigger hormonal hair thinning in women. During menopause, your body’s generation of progestins and estrogens can decrease, which results in this issue.
Types of Hair Loss
Hair loss gets stimulated by genetic female pattern hair loss, ageing, thyroid illness, or other hormonal fluctuations. Also, as per the latest research, approximately one-third of women confront hair loss and hair thinning problems in their lifetime. There are usually different types of hair loss (Alopecia) mentioned below:
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Androgenetic Alopecia –
This is a female-pattern hair loss or baldness induced by heredity. It is the principal cause of hair loss in women and usually occurs between 12 to 40 years of age. Also, unlike men who experience specific bald spots, women experience overall hair loss.
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Cicatricial Alopecia –
It is a group of medical ailments that creates resolute hair loss through scarring.
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Traumatic Alopecia –
This is another hair loss type where women experience hair fall due to excessive use of hair styling products. The hair follicles may break after using blow dryers, hot combs, straighteners, or substances to dye or straighten hair.
Understanding The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
Several women undergo hair loss and hair thinning during menopause due to a reduction in the creation of female sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen. These hormonal fluctuations likewise point to medical symptoms like menstrual period irregularity, night sweats, dry skin, weight gain, and vaginal dryness.
Also, a stressful lifestyle and worrying about all these health problems can even worsen your hair loss. Hence, it might not be wrong to say that hair loss and menopause are related, and menopause can be a primary trigger for hair loss.
How To Prevent Hair Loss And Hair Thinning?
Hair loss induced by hormonal fluctuations or stress, like pregnancy or menopause, might not need treatment. Alternatively, the loss will possibly stop on its own after your body adapts to those changes.
However, hair loss due to underlying medical conditions or nutrient deficiencies requires different considerations. Mentioned hereunder are some efficient ways to prevent hair thinning and hair loss.
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Scalp Massage
A scalp massage is the best and easiest way to get thicker hair and prevent hair loss. Also, to get the most beneficial results, apply a bit of pressure while massaging your scalp to stimulate blood flow.
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Essential Oils
Essential oils are extracts obtained from particular plants, and they get primarily employed in aromatherapy and other kinds of alternative medications. However, a scalp massage from these essential oils, when mixed with mainstream oils, such as rosemary, prevents hair loss.
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Anti-thinning shampoo
Anti-thinning shampoo is yet another excellent way to prevent hair loss and add some volume to your hair. This anti-thinning shampoo contains vitamins and amino acids that foster a healthier scalp to produce more hair over time.
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Multivitamins
Healthy hair depends on your overall well being, and it demands folic acid, iron and zinc to keep growing and remain strong. However, if there is any nutritional deficiency, your hair might start falling, and your doctor may prescribe some multivitamins to cure this problem.
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Folic Acid Supplements
In some cases of nutritional deficiency, multivitamins are not sufficient. This is where doctors prescribe folic acid as they prove to be a boon for preventing hair loss and hair thinning.
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Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a hair loss and hair thinning medication. If you are experiencing heavy hair loss, apply this twice a day on your scalp to see excellent results.
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Spironolactone
If hormonal fluctuation is the principal cause of your hair thinning and hair loss, your doctor may prescribe Spironolactone (Aldactone). This medication boosts androgen that helps in the development of new hair follicles.
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Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are over the counter medications used for diseases linked to underlying medical conditions, including hair loss.
The Bottom Line
While the problem of hair loss and hair thinning can be disturbing at first, it is treatable. Nevertheless, if you continue to encounter hair loss and hair thinning, it might be time to talk to an experienced dermatologist. If you are looking for further information on hair thinning or wish to connect with some of the best dermatologists for your hair loss problems, visit Skin and Hair Academy.
