Although hair loss is more common in men than women, thinning hair and hair loss does happen for women and it is just as upsetting. There are many reasons why women experience hair loss, which range from vitamin deficiencies to physical and emotional stress. For most cases, there are different treatment options for hair loss, depending on what is causing it.
Physical stress is a cause of hair loss, and any type of physical trauma, (a severe illness, accident, surgery), can cause you to experience temporary hair loss. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. For most people, the hair loss will become noticeable three to six months after the trauma, but the hair will start growing back as your body starts to heal.
Pregnancy is considered a sub-set of physical stress and can cause women to have hair loss also. Hair loss that is related to pregnancy will usually be seen after the baby is born. When you are pregnant, your hormone levels change and your hair does not fall out at its usual rate. After you give birth, your hormone levels start to change again and all of that hair that did not fall out during pregnancy will start to fall out, and for some women, it will seem like a lot of hair is falling out. Once the hormones in the body regulate again, the hair loss will stop.
Vitamins can also be a cause of hair loss and if there is too much vitamin a in your diet, you may suffer from hair loss. Hair should start to grow back normally once the vitamin a level has been leveled out. On the other hand, if you are deficient in vitamin b, you may experience hair loss. Women who do not have enough vitamin b in their diet can suffer from hair loss, but with dietary changes, this can easily be fixed.
Over styling your hair can be damaging and can cause your hair growth to suffer. If you use excessive heat from blow dryers, curling irons and straighteners on a regular basis, it can cause your hair to become dry and brittle and prone to breakage. The same goes for using harsh chemicals on your hair. Take a look at the ingredients in your hair care products and try to choose products that are gentler on your hair.
Women who experience a dramatic weight loss may notice that their hair is thinning. When you lose a lot of weight, it may be because of dietary changes and you may not be getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals anymore. Usually six months after the weight loss your hair will start to grow back again.
Emotional stress has a lot of negative effects on your health, and hair loss may just be another one of them. Whether you are suffering a loss, having problems with family or friends or worrying about money, you may experience hair loss. Just like with physical stress, the hair loss will eventually stop, most likely once you are able to reduce the stress in your life.
Female-pattern hair loss, called androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, is the female version of male pattern baldness. Your treatment options will depend on your stage of hair loss. For more details about our hair loss solutions, all you need to do is reach out to the Chicago ARTAS Hair Restoration Specialist and schedule a free consultation.