9 Common Causes of Hair Loss in Women
Is your hair falling out a lot more than usual? Normally, losing some of your hair is natural and there is nothing to worry about. However, a large quantity of hair loss can be quite concerning. If you are suddenly seeing big clusters of hair around your surroundings, you may have experienced the first signs of hair thinning.
While hair loss is more noticeable and prevalent among the male population, many women also suffer from the same problem. Women can lose significant amounts of their hair, particularly as they grow older. Fortunately, most instances of hair loss are not that severe. You may be able to reverse the damage through some hair care techniques, along with regular maintenance visits at the hair salon.
Let’s learn about the nine common causes of hair loss in women and how this condition can be treated effectively.
1. Itchy scalp and hair loss in females
Many of us scratch our heads frequently throughout the day, like an unconscious habit that we develop without noticing. The scratching can easily damage the hair follicles, along with injuring the skin on the scalp. Over time, this repeated gesture may cause hair loss in women, especially when you scratch with too much force.
Although an itchy scalp may leave you feeling uncomfortable, resist the urge to touch your hair all the time. Keep your idle hands occupied so that they aren’t as inclined to scratch your head!
2. Dandruff and hair loss
Dandruff is a common condition that affects the scalp and produces flakes of dead skin. When you have dandruff, you tend to scratch your scalp a lot to relieve the persistent itch. Unfortunately, excessive scratching will cause your hair to shed significantly. You can combat this problem by switching to an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner.
3. Hair loss from heat damage
Hot hairstyling tools like straighteners and curling wands may cause hair loss in women. The excessive heat damages your hair shaft, causing it to break and fall out more easily. Using these hot tools once or twice won’t harm the hair too much, but prolonged exposure to the heat will leave lasting damages. To stop hair loss, be mindful in how you style your hair or visit a hair stylist for proper handling.
4. Stress induced hair loss
It’s important to understand that our hair goes through different phases. The hair grows during the growth phase, then goes through a transition phase and a resting phase. Once the resting phase is over, the hair will fall off eventually. During a stressful event, your hair follicles might be prematurely pushed into a resting phase. This allows your body to have more energy available to get you through the day.
After the stressful trauma has passed, your hair might respond and start shedding rapidly. That’s why you may notice significant hair loss after experiencing a death, a divorce, or an important medical procedure. Fortunately, your hair might grow back as long as you keep the stress levels under control.
5. Diet and hair loss in females
An unbalanced diet is a notorious reason for hair loss in women. What you eat day after day can influence the health of your hair. If your current diet has a vitamin deficiency, this could be responsible for your hair loss. A balanced and nutritious diet should result in healthier hair that doesn’t fall out as easily. Look for adding a good mix of iron, zinc, vitamin B3, vitamin B12, and omega 12s to enrich your daily diet.
6. Hair loss after pregnancy
Giving birth to a child is an incredible experience, but it can also put stress on your body, including your hair. When a woman is pregnant, her hair tends to grow faster than normal. Her hormones will shift after giving birth, causing the hair to rapidly go from a growth phase to the resting phase. Soon afterwards, the hair will shed. If you’ve given birth recently, losing more hair than usual is normal and temporary.
7. Hair loss after weight loss
If you recently lost a lot of weight, this could be the reason for your hair loss. A rapid weight loss is a dramatic transformation, putting lots of stress on the body as it copes with the changes. The sudden weight fluctuation may cause your hair to go into a resting phase, where it will shed easily. The hair loss should stop getting worse once you have settled at a steady weight level.
8. Genetic hair loss in females
Unfortunately, hair loss can be hereditary, passed down from the genetic makeup of your family. There is a condition known as female-pattern baldness, which affects a small population of women. Due to this condition, the hair follicles among the crown of your scalp will shrink, causing the hairline to recede. If hair loss is in your genes, seek medical consultation for a potential long-term hair treatment.
9. Medications that cause hair loss
Another cause of hair loss in women may come from the side effects in medications. It is possible to experience hair loss from arthritis medication, cholesterol medication, or high blood pressure medication. Obviously, stopping these medical treatments is not recommended. However, you could voice your concerns to a doctor, who may prescribe a different kind of medication that won’t make your hair shed.
Other common reasons for hair loss in women are related to health or skin issues. Autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and psoriasis may be responsible for chronic hair shedding. Speak with your doctor or dermatologist for a recommended treatment on how to stop the hair loss.