In general, the causes of hair loss in women are similar to what causes hair loss in men.
While you might think that men would be the ones suffering from hair loss rather than women, the truth is many women also experience hair loss.
Why Women Lose Hair
Hair growth is a natural process in our human bodies. When everything is fine, our hair grows uninterrupted and in a healthy manner. However, things like illness, medication, stress or even extreme shock are some causes of hair loss in both men and women.
Most women start noticing hair loss in their 50s and 60s. However, women under 40 also do experience loss of hair and this may cause a certain amount of stress.
Healthy Hair Loss
There is a cycle of growth and replacement for our hair. At any one point in time, between 85% – 90% of our hair is in the growth stage (Anagen stage) and between 10%-15% is in the resting (Telogen) stage.
At the Telogen stage, the hair follicles are resting and preparing to grow a new strand of hair that will push the old strand out.
So on average, a person loses anywhere between 50-100 strands of hair a day. If you see a couple of strands on your pillow in the morning, you don’t have to get upset. Everyone loses a few strands of hair every day.
However, if you do notice excessive hair falling out when you are showering or an increased number of hairs on your pillow in the morning, then it might be time to do something about the health of your hair.
Causes of Hair Loss In Women
There are several reasons why women lose hair. While men experience hair loss typically beginning from the front of their scalp or at the top of their heads, women tend to have hair thinning beginning at the top half of their scalps.
If you notice thinning hair with other physical symptoms like joint pains, headaches, swelling of hands or feet, or even rashes, it is advisable to check with your doctor as hair loss may be a symptom of another more serious physical ailment.
Some of the causes of hair loss in women are:
- Thyroid – An overactive or underactive thyroid gland at work.
- Lupus – A chronic auto-immune condition that causes your immune system to attack healthy tissue
- Iron Deficiency – Not enough iron in your body
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – A hormonal imbalance caused by ovaries producing too much male hormones, sometimes leading to infertility in women.
- Skin conditions on the scalp – Rashes, fungal infections (like ring worm), psoriasis etc.
- Alopecia Areata – Autoimmune disorder that causes your body to attack its own hair follicles
- Excessive Styling of Hair – Hairstyles that pull tightly on the scalp, excessive bleaching or colouring, overuse of the hair-dryer, etc.
Many women suffer from thyroid disease. In essence, the thyroid either is underactive or overactive in producing the thyroid hormone. This particular hormone is necessary for our metabolism, heart rate and moods. When there is either too little or too much of this thyroid hormone, the body can go through a change in its natural functions.
If you visit a doctor with symptoms of hair loss, one of the first things that he or she might do is preliminary blood work. This is to check if you might be suffering from either an overactive or underactive thyroid.
Another reason for hair loss could be lupus. This is an auto-immune disease that causes the body’s own immune system to attack healthy tissue. Where it tends to affect women is during their child bearing years and one of the symptoms (among many others) is hair thinning or even falling out in patches.
If you are experiencing hair loss together with joint pains, fatigue, headaches, oral ulcers, fever, swelling in the feet, hands or around the eyes, or a butterfly shaped rash across the bridge of the nose, it is advisable to see a doctor for treatment.
Lack of sufficient iron in your blood may also contribute to hair loss. This is especially true for women who suffer from heavy periods. A simple way to remedy this is by taking more iron rich foods or even iron supplements on a regular basis.
Stopping Hair Loss In Women
When you realize that you are losing hair, it is important to identify if it is due to factors like stress (from work or relationships), unhealthy foods, or personal habits like excessive styling. These things can be rectified by adjusting your lifestyle and diet.
If you are experiencing hair loss together with other physical ailments, it may just be a signal for you to visit the doctor for a more thorough checkup.
While there are several causes of hair loss in women, the most important thing is to identify if it is easily treatable or if it is just a symptom of a larger health condition that requires medical attention.
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