Female Hair Loss
You might not know this but hair loss in women is just as common as hair loss in men. In our society today, the word 'hair loss' is often associated with balding men facing Male Pattern Baldness and people undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
It's not often you hear about women having hair loss problems because this is one subject most women tend to avoid or are afraid to discuss about. However, when hair loss does strike them, the psychological impact is often far more catastrophic than for men.
Why is this so?
The answer is pretty obvious. It's because beauty has always been the essence of women and their hair is a symbol of their elegance. That is why it's very hard for many women to accept the fact that they are losing their hair, and they will go through all sorts of troubles to prevent that from happening.
If you are a female and your hair is thinning, it's time to know what is really happening and solve it fast. There are actually many issues that cause hair loss in women and most of them are related to the big H word.
Hormones, Hormones and Hormones
Hair loss in women is directly associated with imbalances and changes inside their body. Hormonal imbalance is the most familiar concern of women at some time of their lives, since it's the cause of all sorts of physical, emotional problems – and hair loss too.
To keep your hair follicles in good shape, you need an adequate flow of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and an uninterrupted oxygen supply to maintain a healthy growing environment for your hair. Nevertheless, there are many others factors that can influence this delicate balance such as:
Menopause
Pregnancy
Birth contraceptives
Hormone replacement therapy
Diet
Irregular menstrual cycles.
These conditions are the most common causes of hair loss in women and once any of them strike you, you may soon see some dramatic changes to your overall health, mood, skin quality and in this case, hair loss.
Female Pattern Baldness
Female Pattern Baldness or Female Androgenetic Alopecia is linked to the same cause of genetic hair loss in men and also other hormonal factors. However, women facing FPB might not notice a thinning pattern like that faced by their male counterparts. Instead, the hair loss is scattered throughout the scalp leading to the appearance of fine and thin looking hair.
See what Female Pattern Baldness is all about.
Although FPB does not share similar traits with Male Pattern Baldness, – the male's version of genetic baldness – the main causes of hair loss for women are related to genetics just like men. It's pretty hard to actually determine whether you face this condition because the symptoms are very faint and common, and so you will need to be more aware while detecting this condition.
What causes FPB?
Female Pattern Baldness is a genetic hair loss condition that causes gradual hair thinning all over the scalp. The pattern of thinning is very general and usually resembles diffuse thinning all over the entire scalp. Therefore, it's hard sometimes to actually pinpoint whether the hair loss is FPB or a different hair loss condition like Telogen Effluvium.
The main cause of FPB is directly related to testosterone, the same male sex hormone that is responsible for Male Pattern Baldness. Women too have this male hormone but in much lesser quantities compared to men.
When testosterone binds with an enzyme in your body known as 5 alpha reductase, it converts into a much more potent form of the hormone known as Dihydro testosterone– better known as DHT–an androgenic compound. DHT is responsible for causing hair loss when it sticks to the androgen receptors at the bottom of your hair follicles. Over time, DHT will thin out the hairs causing the appearance of hair loss.
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Postpartum Hair Loss/Post Pregnancy Hair Loss
After giving birth, it's very possible to suffer from sudden hair loss. Postpartum hair loss is a familiar condition faced by new mums and it also happens unexpectedly. While most first timers will have the shock of their lives seeing their precious hair falling, the situation is usually temporary and your hair will be back to normal after a few months. The main cause of this sudden condition involves hormonal fluctuations and post pregnancy stress.
Losing Hair When Still in Pregnancy?
While it's quite common to have temporary and sudden hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) after pregnancy, there are cases where you can suffer from hair loss during pregnancy. The main cause of this abrupt condition is linked to poor pregnancy nutrition and vitamin deficiency. The hair loss can also be a sign of internal stress that you will need to rectify immediately to prevent possible complications to you and your baby.
How Estrogen Preserves Your Hair
Estrogen is the main female hormone that brings out the woman in you. It works hand in hand with your body to provide you with feminine characteristics and also makes your skin fairer, your hair longer and your figure sexier. This hormone is especially important for your hair development and to prevent the male hormone DHT from causing hair loss. Over time, estrogen levels will start to dwindle and that can lead to hair loss in women and several health issues.
What you need to know about Estrogen and hair loss
So how do estrogen and hair loss relate to each other? When it comes to losing their hair, women are generally luckier than men.
One of the reasons is because they have lower chances of developing Pattern Baldness at an early age, and you have the female hormone estrogen to thank for this.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a female sex hormone dominant in women but it can also be found in men in much lesser quantities. It performs the opposite role of the male hormone testosterone and DHT and gives women their female characteristics. Its main purpose is to:• reduce body hair
• decelerate height growth
• promote breast enlargement
• promote hair growth
• and reduce muscle mass etc.
Like its male counter part, estrogen is very important for developing a woman's female characteristics and to emphasise her femininity. Besides that, estrogen is also in charged of producing better skin, nails and hair.
While the male hormone testosterone converted into DHT can cause your hair follicles to stop producing hair, estrogen does just the opposite. If you have normal levels of estrogen in your body, you can rest assured your risk of facing Female Pattern Baldness is much lower for the early part of your adult hood.
Menopause and Hair Loss
Menopause is unavoidable and it's also a primary cause of hormonal imbalances that can lead to hair loss. Besides that, menopause changes your body's natural rhythm and can noticeably influence your mood, eating habits, weight and possible other ailments.
All this extra pressure will definitely stress you mentally and physically and if you do not handle the pressure well, it will also be a reason for sudden hair loss. Managing menopause is important to control hair loss, and the earlier you start the better.
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