We associate hair loss and balding with men, but this isn’t always the case – women can sometimes suffer from it as well. When you can see scalp is more visible when you part your hair, or that your parting has visibly widened, this may be a sign that you’re losing your hair. It’s common to see your hair fall out when you shower in the morning, or when you dry your hair with a hairdryer. However, when you’re losing more than 50 to 100 strands a day, this means it may be becoming a serious problem. The growth of your hair depends on the health of your scalp, but there are a number of reasons why your scalp health may have declined. These are some of the more common reasons for hair loss in women, and how to combat them.
Genetics
If hair loss runs in your family, this could increase your risk of suffering the same fate. Genetic reasons are the most common cause for hair loss in people, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Nutritional deficiency
Your diet can have a big impact on your hair growth, and some women spot hair loss in patches when they’re lacking in certain nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12 or magnesium. Such vitamins and minerals can lead to weaker hair follicles and nails, so it’s vital that you get plenty of these to ensure lustrous hair and stronger nails. Iron can be sourced from meat, fish, fruit and leafy green vegetables. Protein is what builds the hair strands, so if you’re lacking in this it can lead to hair loss – replace this in your diet with milk, cheese, pulses and beans.
Stress
Stress can hinder our health in a number of ways and it can result in hair loss in both men and women. It’s one of the most common reasons for hair loss, because when you’re stressed the hair follicles enter a resting phase which is the third phase of the hair growth cycle. When in this phase, the strands begin to shed after a few months. A healthy lifestyle that’s stress-free and relaxed is the best way to combat this risk.
Diseases
There are numerous health complaints which cite hair loss as their symptoms, and some of these cause spots of baldness whilst others lead to full baldness. Thyroid disease is one such problem, which affects the body’s control of the metabolism. Because of this, the hair’s growth cycle is affects which can make it sparse and dry. Once the problem with the thyroid has been treated, however, it usually results in thicker and healthier hair again. Lucus is a lesser known ailment and causes inflammation of the organ tissue which can lead to hair loss in as many as 50 percent of patients. This usually occurs in the area around the temples. Telogen Effluvium is caused when large patches of hair follicles enter the rest cycle, which may happen as a result of a traumatic incident such as major surgery or an acute illness.
Hormones
Hormonal changes upset the natural balance of the body’s functions and growth. The oscillation in the level of progesterone and oestrogen can affect the hair follicles, upsetting the balance and leading to hair loss. The increased levels of oestrogen and a lower level of progesterone can leave women feeling depressed and tired, which can lead to stress. When women are stressed or dejected, the hair enters the resting phase again, which leads to the hair loss we associate with stress.
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