Have you asked yourself why your hair is falling out? The reason for your hair loss and thinning may range from very simple reasons to complex reasons. You should also understand that thinning is common to both women and men but it is true that men are more likely to lose their hair than women mostly due to a male pattern of baldness.
It is very true that everyone can lose his/her hair, and this is normally be experienced during your morning shower, while you’re blowing it dry, or when you give it a quick brush. But loss especially when they are not replaced may be a sign of more serious medical condition which will require the attention of the dermatologist for possible treatment.
Always, there are many ways to treat this problem both male and female and this will absolutely depend on the nature of the root of the causes in various situations cited as cosmetic or health problems.
Causes in women
Hair loss in women is something that can badly affect their confidence taken into account that society considers hair to be an important integral part of women beauty.
So there is always a social stigma attached to a woman going bald and this can really affect the sensuality and how women will even perceive themselves. So usually women who fall victims will always avoid the public place for fear that others will notice their problem.
It is also very important to understand that there many different types. It can be in the form of “thinning” or can as well involve a total loss of hair. Again it can be gradual or sudden. It can also affect the old and the young.
Below are some of the reasons why women lose hair:
1. Deficiency Anemia
When you don’t eat enough iron-rich food or experience heavy periods, such women might fall victim to iron deficiency and their blood will not have enough red blood cells.
Due to the fact that it is the red blood cells that transport oxygen to all the cells in your body, providing you with the energy you need, lack of enough red blood cells will lead to extreme conditions such as pale skin and weakness. These conditions will also be accompanied by a headache, cold hands and feet, and hair loss.
During the diagnosis of iron deficiency, a blood test of ferritin (the protein that stores iron in your body) and the level of hematocrit in your blood will be employed.
2. Traction alopecia
This is the condition caused when hair follicles are exposed to local trauma. For example, this could be the tight hairstyles that pull it over time. So usually when such phenomenon is detected earlier and attended to, then it will regrow. The common styles that lead to this situation are braiding, cornrows, extensions, and tight ponytails.
3. Hypothyroidism
There is a certain hormone which is responsible for the growth of your hair, nails, and skin. This hormone is called Thyroid hormone. It is also responsible for basal metabolic rate (the rate at which the body uses oxygen and energy to function).
When your body produces too little thyroid hormone, then you are said to have hypothyroidism or you are an underactive thyroid. When your body produces too much thyroid hormone you are said to have hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid.
So women who don’t have the right amount of thyroid hormone are likely to fall victims of hair loss.
4. Androgenetic Alopecia
Sometimes some women happen to have diffuse thinning in the hair on all areas of their scalp. Now, this is due to the fact that such women do have androgenetic Alopecia which affects the follicle in the women leading to loss of hair.
Androgenetic alopecia in women is basically due to the actions of androgens (male hormones that are typically present in small amounts). Androgenetic alopecia can be due to a variety of factors in relation to the actions of hormones. It is also very important to note that heredity is a major factor in the disease.
Among other reasons below are some of the factors in relation to actions of the hormones leading to Androgenetic Alopecia:
- Ovarian cysts.
- The taking of high androgen index birth control pills.
- Pregnancy and
5. Anagen Effluvium
This is the condition that occurs after your hair follicle has been insulted and it’s mitotic or metabolic activity has been impaired. Anagen Effluvium is caused by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy (as a treatment) targets the rapidly diving cancer cells of your body can also interfere with another rapidly diving cell in your body, for example, the follicle in the growing (anagen) phase.
So as soon as chemotherapy begins, approximately 90 percent or more can fall out during the anagen phase. The shaft narrows as a result of damage to the matrix. Eventually, the shaft fractures at the site of narrowing and causes the loss of hair.
6. Telogen Effluvium
Telogen Effluvium occurs after your body has undergone some conditions that lead trauma, for example, extreme stress, severe infection, major surgery, and malnutrition or childbirth. So the traumatic conditions may lead to 90 percent or more of the hair in the growing phase or resting phase to shift all at once in shedding phase.
Due to the fact that TE is caused by undergoing traumatic conditions or undergoing severely stressful events, for some women, however, Telogen effluvium is a mysterious chronic disorder and can persist for months or even years without any true understanding of any triggering factors or stressors.
Signs and symptoms
It is good to know that hair loss can occur in various ways depending on their specific root. It can occur gradually or suddenly and can just affect your scalp or the whole of your body. Another important thing to be considered is that the loss could be temporary while other conditions are permanent.
Read on below to know some of the balding signs and symptoms.
1. Bald patch on the scalp
Formation of circular or patchy bald spots on the head is one of the hair loss signs. Some people in this case will experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This will most of the time affect the scalp but sometimes also it may be seen occur in beards and eyebrows. This condition is sometimes accompanied by the itchy and painful skin.
2. Shedding of scales
Some individuals may have some patches of scaling that spreads over the scalp. This is normally a sign of ringworm which is accompanied by the broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.
3. Loose hair
Another sign and symptom is the fact that some people will experience sudden hair loosening. To make it sound when it becomes to lose it is easy to pull out or get cut. This may be due to physical or emotional shock.
4. Hair thinning out
Another one is the gradual thinning of hair on top of the head. This type usually affects aging men and women.
NOTE: Keep in mind that the signs we have highlighted above can be noticed in both males and females who practice hair keeping.
Hair loss in young women
Hair loss in young women may seem to be a very serious problem especially if this happens before they are married. Most of them may undergo the social stigmatization from men who will ignore such ladies with hair problems.
You can imagine how a very young lady would feel if she starts to develop some bald in the head. Their self-esteem will go down and this will even influence their daily activities performance. This can even affect their academic performance while in schools.
The causes in young ladies may be what we call normal (during a shower, while you’re blowing it dry, or when you give it a quick brush). But it can also be due to heavy periods, trauma conditions among others that we have discussed above. Actually, several causes of hair loss in women are usually common for young and old women.
Thinning causes & treatments
As far as hair thinning is always an issue that affects both men and women, luckily there are several proper ways to deal with this issue in both women and men. Though an issue that is slightly different from hair loss – serious – case may lead to remains of some exposed patches hair thinning normally means that the remains in the head have got reduced texture make the scalp to look like it is exposed beneath.
Do you want to learn about the causes and possible solutions? If yes then read below to get the facts.
Causes
Hair thinning is sometimes related to genetics but you should note that due to the facts that your father or mother suffered air thinning, this is not a guarantee that you also suffer the same but we have to agree that it also has something to do with genetics.
Sometimes, some type of medications can also lead to air thinning, for instance, the hormones found in birth control pills can affect the texture of the hair. So when you suspect your birth control pills please see your doctor immediately.
Another factor that can also lead to air thinning is the stress factor. This may be due to strains like menopause, childbirth or even prolonged severe illness.
Treatments
Though hair especially in has proved to be a serious condition to them, there are still remedies for this problem. These remedies are always available for trial. Below are of the remedies for thinning hair.
- Employing a shifting diet that is rich in various vitamins that are always popular for several physical issues including its loss.
- Seeking proper medication for the thinning, for instance, the use of Minoxidil is highly recommended.
- A hair transplant is another important remedy. Though it seems to be very expensive, it is also very effective.
There are also various home remedies that can be used to hasten the thinning relief. For example, regular protein can come in the form of raw eggs beat in a bowl and added to hair for approximately 35 minutes.
The use of Olive oil is also another good effort to help treat this issue of thinning though this is an old-school method it is still very effective as well.
The application of Indian Gooseberry, Castor oil, and Fenugreek Seeds can also help to hasten the relief of the hair thinning issue.
Hair loss treatment for women
Did you know that hair loss in female baldness pattern is permanent if not treated? But in cases where it is women is mild, then there might be no much pressure for medication especially when the victim is comfortable with her appearance.
So please now take your time to look at the treatment and remedies as discussed below.
Treatment
One of the best medication in the treatment of female pattern of baldness is the use of minoxidil. This kind of medication is even approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of United States. The minoxidil should be applied to the scalp and for the women, the concentration of two percent is just good. This medicine will the hair to grow in about 1 in 5 of women. It may be slow or stop hair loss depending on the status of the women applying it.
It is also very important to note that this kind of medication should be applied for a long period of time and when stopped loss of a problem will resume.
Sometimes when this kind of medicine doesn’t work for you then you will again need to see your doctor. Possibly, if minoxidil doesn’t work out, your doctor may recommend for you other medicines like spironolactone, cimetidine, birth control, ketoconazole among others.
1. Hair Transplant
Another remedy can be the transplanting of the air. So during the process transplant, tiny plugs of hair are removed from areas where it is thicker in the head and transplanted in the areas that are balding.
There might be some mild pain experienced during transplanting especially when hair is removed. Again there is also another small risk of skin infection which needs to be taken care of. But after the transplant, the result will be definitely awesome.
Hair Growth Products
These are the product that can help you to keep and sustain the status of your beautiful hair. They can speed up the regrowth and make it appear thicker and fuller just all at once. But again it is very important to be patient while using these products to solve these problems.
Also, it is very important to start using these products at the early stage of your balding or thinning. While using the products one should always be on a well-balanced diet – another supplement remedy for hair problems.
We have sampled out a few of such products for you. Read below to see some of the examples of Hair Growth Products.
- Pura D’or – prevention premium organic shampoo
- Ultrax labs – lush caffeine
- Ultrax labs – surge caffeine
- Derma change – growth shampoo and conditioner
- Dirgin – fertilizer by the roots naturelle, etc.
Other Remedies
Besides the cosmetic procedures and hair products, some other solutions that may help address it especially in women are weaving, hairpieces, or sometimes an appropriate change in the hairstyle. Apart from hiding and maintaining it, change in styles will help improve one’s appearance. In fact, these are some of the least expensive ways to address the issue.
Generally, hair loss and thinning are issues that should be dealt with as soon as their symptoms are noticed at their early stages. Whenever some of the home remedies don’t work out, the affected individuals should seek the attention of their hair specialist doctor to get proper medication before the situation develops to their severity.