Causal Factors of Female Hair Loss

Hair is women’s crowning glory. It helps them achieve the best look for their face with a few snips and twists. Women, like men, also suffer from hair loss — though it is somewhat less perceptible. Even though it is not a typical issue, hair loss in women may also happen due to some hereditary and environmental causes.

The medical term for baldness is ‘alopecia’. It got its name from the Greek name of fox, ‘alopex’. Foxes are observed to have thinning of fur when distressed with skin problems.

Alopecia may be permanent or temporary, depending on the pattern occurring. The most common one is androgenetic alopecia, which occurs gradually but stays permanently. This pattern is a combination of androgens (the male hormones) and genetics. Another type of hair receding problem is alopecia areata or patchy hair loss.

Depending on the condition of the scalp, the hair usually grows back. The most common hair loss experience for many women is when their hair thins after giving birth or after having fever, weight loss and stress. This is called telogen effluvium. Lastly, traction alopecia occurs from certain hairstyles like ponytails and tight braids.

There are fairly a couple of factors that cause excessive hair loss in women . Hormonal problem is one; thyroid gland–related sickness is another; stress; chemotherapy; and surgery are also common reasons for baldness. Some ladies in their early 30s experience this problem, due to genetic susceptibility or by a hair chemical treatment. Generally, women begin to have alopecia in their fifties.

Age is one common factor of hair loss in women, especially those over 50. When a woman ages, a lot of biological changes happen like change in hormone production due to menopause. At the age of 50, the scalp is no longer very able to produce much more hair. Hair loss in women in their 50s usually appears as diffuse hair thinning.

Hair loss in women that are due to sickness, childbirth, and radiation therapy do not necessarily need treatment as the hair normally grows back once the medical condition stabilizes. Head coverings like hats and wigs may be temporarily used to cover baldness. Hair loss brought on by age, hormones and genes can be treated with topical or oral medications.

Although not a direct treatment to baldness, hair transplants can be considered as a fixed solution to permanent baldness, especially if the issue is significantly affecting a woman. This process is costly and painful, but the outcomes are normally permanent.