Hair fall is a part of our everyday life and it can clog up your shower drain. It also means you have to vacuum every other day or your carpet can turn into a hairy rug! On an average we lose around 80 – 100 hair strands in a day. If you begin to shed significantly more than that, well, that’s when things start to get a bit worrisome.
While male and female pattern baldness is a primary cause of hair loss, when it comes to hair fall there are so many potential triggers. This means it can be tricky to pinpoint the exact reason why your hair strands are falling out.In this blog, we understand the main causes of hair loss in women.
The possible triggers of female hair loss, include:
Also read: https://www.drbatras.ae/stages-of-female-patterned-hairloss-and-its-treatment
- Androgenetic alopecia: This is a very common cause of hair loss in both men and women. It is another term for male or female pattern baldness. Androgenetic alopecia is more likely to happen as an individual ages, but can start at any point after puberty. According to The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), many women who experience androgenetic alopecia develop it due to early menopause. A hormonal imbalance can lead to various health conditions, from adult acne to weight gain. Estrogens or Oestrogens (female hormones) are ‘hair friendly’ and help to keep the hair growth phase for an optimal length of time. Androgens (male hormones) are ‘not hair friendly’, and can shorten the hair growth cycle.An excess of androgens (which could be caused by an endocrine disorder, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome) can cause severe hair loss.
- Alopecia areata: It is an autoimmune disease that causes sudden hair loss in women. The immune system attacks hair follicles, along with other healthy parts of the body. There can be sudden hairfall from the scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes in small chunks.
- Anagen effluvium: It causes severe hair fall during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. The condition may cause hair fall from the head, or from other parts of the body, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Causes of hair loss include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Skin infections
- Autoimmune disease
- Telogen effluvium: It is a condition where the hair remains in the telogen (natural shedding) phase of the hair growth cycle. Some possible causes of hair loss include:
- Severe stress
- Surgery
- Childbirth
- Rapid weight loss
- Thyroid problems
- Certain conventional medications.
- Traction alopecia: It is the hair loss due to tight hairstyles, which causes hair breakage. If traction alopecia continues, an individual may develop bald spots and hair thinning. Hairstyles associated with this condition include:
- Tight buns or ponytails
- Braids
- Cornrows(a hair braiding style in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp)
- Hair extensions.
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism: The thyroid glands help to regulate the body’s thyroid metabolism by controlling the production of proteins and the tissue’s use of oxygen. The thyroid imbalance causes an adverse effect on your hair follicles. Moreover, if hypothyroidism is left untreated it may result in anaemia.
- Nutritional deficiencies: Extreme diets that are too low in protein and certain vitamins, such as iron, can sometimes cause severe hair loss. One of the most common causes of hair loss in women is iron deficiency anemia. Iron is essential for producing hair cell protein. Vitamin B12 deficiency often causes hair loss as it can affect the health of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your tissues. It’s most common in vegans as you can primarily obtain vitamin B12 through animal proteins.
- Pregnancy: Some women may experience excessive hair loss shortly after giving birth. This is due to a decrease in oestrogen levels. This type of hair loss is a temporary condition and is usually resolved within a year.
- Stress: It’s no myth that severe stress can literally cause severe hair loss. Well, it can raise androgen (male hormone) levels, which in turn can causes hair loss. Stress and anxiety can also trigger hair diseases, such as dandruff, disrupt the eating habits and can also alter yourimmune system.
If you notice excessive hair loss, please consult a trichologist or a hair specialist. There could be some underlying hair loss causes that need to be addressedimmediately.
