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A popular misconception is that only men suffer from hair loss. A related fallacy is that only a very small percentage of women experience hair loss. Both assertions are not true; it is estimated that six out of ten women will undergo some degree of hair loss. This process is even more devastating for women because it seems that it is not as prevalent (as hair loss in men) and a woman’s beauty is closely tied in with lustrous, full-looking hair.
Probably one of the most traumatic experiences that can affect a woman is losing her hair. Baldness occurs when hairs begin to fall out (which is normal- about 100-150 per day), but do not grow back. Science is still tackling with exact reasons for the start of the process, but we know that genetic predisposition, aging, and diet are closely (if not directly) related.
Reasons for Hair Loss
Genetic hair loss and increased shedding (chronic telogen effluvium) is responsible for the majority of hair loss grievances by women (up to 95% before menopause). Unlike men, women are more likely to experience thinning from behind the front hairline to the crown.
There are two types of hair loss: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium. The latter is due to medications or processes such as chemotherapy. The former is due to an abnormal number of hair follicles being in the resting stage. The following are reasons for telogen effluvium:
- Stress on the body due to surgery, illness, anemia, rapid change in weight, etc.
- Stress on the mind due to mental illness, death, depression, etc.
- Thyroid abnormalities
- Medications such as high doses of Vitamin A, blood pressure pills, gout medications, etc.
- Hormonal causes such as birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause
The following could be reasons for temporary hair loss:
- Too little protein or iron in the diet
- Alopecia areata
- Traumatic stress or illness
- Childbirth
- Ringworm
When these above causes are remedied, a return of normal hair growth will follow.
Diet
A good, healthy, and well-balanced diet contributes to voluminous hair. Large amounts of vitamin A should be avoided. Protein and iron rich foods will contribute to healthy hair. Vegetarians and Vegans often may be targets for hair loss because of their modified diets. Protein, iron, and zinc supplements should be ingested on a daily basis if you are a vegan or vegetarian.
Physical and Emotional Stress
Undergoing severe illness and emotional stress can contribute to hair loss. The body begins to break down and normal functioning is altered. The body knows that hair production is not vital to survival, so it will devote its energies elsewhere and in effect create hair loss. In most cases there is a three month delay between an event and the advent of hair loss. It may take up to three months for hair to grow back after the resolution of a traumatic event.
Health conditions such as anemia, low blood count, and thyroid abnormalities attribute to hair loss. These conditions can be combated and can easily be indicated by a blood test.
Hormonal Change
Hormonal changes can cause hair loss in women. Pregnancy and the discontinuation of birth control pills can cause hair loss. When a woman is pregnant their levels of the hormone progesterone becomes high and causes hair to be in a dormant state. When hormone levels re-balance, the woman will experience re-growth of the hair. Ironically, when a woman undergoes restoration, she will see a great deal of hair falling out. This is the dormant hair being replaced by healthier, fuller hair.
Remedies
- A well balanced diet including foods high in protein and iron
- Regular doctor check ups
- Counseling for stress (especially after a traumatic event)
- Hair weaves, changing hair style, and or wigs.
- Hair transplants
- Minoxidil (Rogaine)
The good news is that if you are experiencing hair loss, most likely the cause can be remedied. It is up to each woman to take care of herself and be proactive to fight hair loss. Because it takes some time to overcome and re-grow hair after many of the instances of hair loss, finding a great looking wig is suggested, so that you will not experience a lack of confidence and cause more stress (which is bad for the hair) while your hair is growing back.
Men, do you like to style your hair everyday? Do you use gels and creams and waxes to make it sleek and cool?
Women, do you use hairdryers or curling irons daily? Do you stretch your hair with braids or ponytails, and even overuse hair color?
Frequent abuse is one of the causes of hair loss. If we want to save our hair, this is the first step that we should be aware of. See if you are observing the following:
Avoid rubbing your hair too vigorously and styling your hair when it’s wet. This can cause it to stretch and break. Be careful in using permanent dyes or color on your hair. These chemicals usually cause hair damage.
Eat your vitamins! Our hair is composed of a protein called keratin. It is good to find a vitamin or food supplement that will nourish this type of protein. Also, take vitamins that have antioxidants. These fight free radicals that can damage healthy cells in our body including our hair.
Have a well-balanced diet. Eat foods that have high protein content such as Lean Meats, Peanuts and Almonds, Eggs, Legumes, Oatmeal, Whole Grain Bread and Cottage Cheese. Keeping yourself physically healthy will prevent you from taking medications that can cause hair loss.
Regular exercise and getting enough sleep naturally maintains overall health, as well as lowering stress in our lives. You may ask, are stress and hair loss related? Absolutely!
If you are currently in the middle of a problem, you may be stressed. If you are putting a very high demand of your physical and mental energy to perform higher and above your capacity, you may be stressed too. Usually, hair loss happens after the onset of a very stressful situation or event. Telogen Effluvium is the medical name given to hair loss induced stress.
When you realize that you are stressed, you must think of ways on how you can effectively manage it. One good technique is the “art of disassociation.” It is a kind of meditation you can do by imagining that the cause of your stress is moving farther and farther away from you. You can feel a sense of calmness and it will show in your face and in your actions. This is an important tool to allow your body to calm down and remove built-up stress.
Another tool to use in managing stress is to have a form of relaxation that you enjoy doing. For example, if you like reading or watching a good movie, then do these activities often to release stress. Engaging in sports is the best way that some people use to relax themselves. Pick out a fun activity that will suit you.
All of us want beautiful and healthy hair. Therefore, consciously caring for it should be a daily habit. It is better to be safe than sorry so don’t take your hair for granted! It is sometimes unfortunate that we appreciate what we have when we already lost them. Take care of your hair before it’s too late.
In the past few decades, hair loss in women has become a growing problem. More and more women are complaining of thinning hair. There are a number of reasons for this hair loss. Most often it is because of a hormonal imbalance, other times, hair loss is an after effect of surgery or pregnancy.
Taking specific medications such as the birth control pill, blood thinners, or anti fungal medication can also cause hair loss in women. Women who have had chemotherapy treatment have also experienced hair loss. And these are just a few of the many causes out there.
Diseases and Hair Loss In Women
There are also certain diseases that can cause hair loss in men and women. One of the warning signs of diabetes is hair loss for example. Specific tests need to be done to rule this or any other disease out as a cause of hair loss before you take any further action.
When Is Hair Loss In Women Normal?
At any given point in time, hair experts predict that about seven to ten percent of a woman’s hair is in a resting period. This resting period can last approximate two to three months. When the resting period is done, the hair falls out. New hair immediately starts to grow back, and could take up to 6 years to grow out.
Hair expert theorize that approximately ninety percent of all hair is growing at one time. It is the normal to experience hair loss on a daily basis.
Treat Your Hair With Care
The way hair is treated can affect hair loss. When hair is always tied back, either in pigtails or ponytails, it can cause a condition called Alopecia. This condition results in scarring on the scalp and new hair growth is prohibited.
Often, women will have their hair permed or colored, to make it look better, but this can damage the hair beyond repair and actually cause Alopecia as well.
Can Doctor Help With Hair Loss In Women?
A medical doctor may be of assistance in the diagnosis of hair loss in women. A doctor will perform an exam and ask a series of questions to help with the diagnosis. It is important to answer all questions honestly. If it is needed, a biopsy will be ordered to rule out any type of cancer.
Treatment Options For Hair Loss In Women
There are treatment options for hair loss. It can be very simple. If the hair loss is due to medication, then a different medication can be prescribed. If the hair loss is due to infection or hormones, again medication can be prescribed.
In the past decade, hair loss drugs such as Rogaine have been developed for hair loss for women. This medicine can be found in over the counter pharmacies everywhere.
There are special doctors who can offer hair transplants to women, however, it is quite expensive, and virtually all insurance companies deem this elective cosmetic surgery and do not cover it.
When All Else Fails
When all else fails, there are specialty shops that offer custom made wigs, weaves, and hairpieces to accommodate any woman who wishes to have luxurious hair.
A great many people suffer from hair loss problems during their lives, and suffering from thinning hair – particularly at an earlier age – can prove very stressful and traumatic. We often associate hair loss with old age, but the truth is that there are many causes of this problem and it can affect anyone and at any age. From small bald spots to high level loss of hair, different people can be affected in different ways, often depending on the cause of the problem. Thankfully, there are a number of solutions available these days that can help with promoting regrowth of the hair. Often the solution that is most effective will depend on a number of factors, such as the cause of the problem, the level of loss, and even your budget. However, different treatments suit different people, and you may find that a solution that has worked on a friend may do nothing for your problem.
Benefiting from hair loss solutions
Medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies Products for the treatment of this problem have been around for many years, but in the past have been treated with some doubt and scepticism. However, over the years, the products available in terms of treatment for thinning hair or loss of hair have vastly improved and many people have found success through the range of over the counter solutions and medications designed to help with the growth of new hair and follicle improvement. You can also get medication on prescription for this problem, such as regaine, and for many this has proven the ideal solution, although you should ensure that you check the side effects with both prescription and over the counter solutions. Vitamins and herbal remedies are also available and could help with this problem, but again the cause of the loss of hair – which could range from illness and medication side effects to stress and poor diet – will often determine how effective each treatment for loss of hair will be.
Transplants could prove the ideal solution Although more expensive than traditional solutions for the treatment of loss of hair, transplants are becoming increasingly popular as a solution simply because this form of treatment is both permanent and effective. By grafting from a healthy area of the scalp, the surgeon can then transplant hair and healthy follicles to the affected area, thus eliminating the baldness problem and promoting regrowth in the future. For many, this is the most natural and effective treatment for their problem.
Because the cause of loss of hair can vary so widely, it is important to try and ascertain the cause of the issue before attempting to treat it. If you notice that you are losing your hair through anything other than aging it is important to seek medical advice before treatment. You can then determine which form of treatment might best suit your needs.
In our society, a man losing his hair as he ages has long been held as one of those inevitable things in life, such as death and taxes, and that there isn’t anything that can be done to stop it. Fortunately for many men, science has made advances in understanding what causes hair loss and finding effective ways to stop it and possibly even reverse it. That means that you can learn how to avoid hair loss in men.
Scientists used to think that baldness was an inherited trait, but new research is showing that that may not be the case. We now know that an overabundance of the hormone DHT might actually play a role in hair loss. When your body has too much DHT it tends to lead to what is called Follicular miniaturization. That means the hair shaft becomes smaller and smaller over time.
Here are some things you can start doing right now. These tips will help you keep your hair and scalp healthy so you can minimize the effects of DHT and stop, or at least slow down, your hair loss:
1. Keep your head clean. All the hair products you use on a day to day basis can build up on your scalp and prevent the hair follicles from growing properly. Thoroughly washing your scalp every day can help remove that buildup which can keep the coast clear for new hair growth.
2. Great hair starts on the inside. No part of your body can function at it’s best if your body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs. Eating a well balanced diet will pay many dividends, not the least of which is healthy hair. Make sure you get plenty of zinc, copper, and lean protein in your diet by eating things like: fish, leafy green vegetables and eggs. Also make sure to drink plenty of water, that will keep your body and your hair properly hydrated.
3. Use shampoos that amp up the hair you still have. These volumizing shampoos can make your hair thicker so use them on a regular basis.
4. You can also make a trip to your doctor or your local pharmacy. There are many prescription and over the counter hair loss treatments that have shown to be effective for some men. Remember, not all products work for all people so it may be necessary for you to do a little trial and error. Also keep in mind that many of the prescription drugs for hair loss have a lot of unpleasant side effects. Carefully discuss these possible side effects with your doctor or pharmacist before you choose which product to use.
We’re lucky we live in a day and age where science is learning more and more about many of things we had for so long thought to be inevitable. We now know that we can learn how to avoid hair loss in men. By following the simple tips above you can dramatically reduce your hair loss and maybe even regrow some of the hair you’ve lost.
