Causes of Hair Loss in Women or Hair Thinning in Females
Hair fall is a common problem among women, and they worry a lot about losing their precious locks. A number of different products are available to treat these issues, but they do not actually work if you do not know the real reason behind your hair loss. Only when you know the cause, you can treat the root issue and get back your beautiful and healthy hair. The common issues are discussed below.
1) Thyroid problems:
If your thyroid gland is not as active as it should be, you could suffer from hair loss. The functioning of these glands determines your metabolism and growth. Consult a doctor and seek medication to get your thyroid levels to normal.
2) Stress due to physical issues:
Going through any kind of physical trauma like a surgery, severe illness, or an accident can be a reason for hair loss. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. Physical trauma can cause a change in the normal hair cycle. The normal cycle consists of the three stages of growth, rest and the shredding stage. Trauma may push hair to the shedding phase, which could cause severe loss of hair. This is not something to worry, as the hair will regain the normal cycle once you get better.
3) Protein deficiency:
You need enough of proteins for your hair to grow properly. So, deficiency of proteins is a cause of hair loss. Your body stops growth of hair to make up for the lack of protein. Have enough of foods containing proteins, and you can get your hair growth back to normal.
4) Being pregnant:
Pregnancy is a stage in life similar to physical stresses. It is also a kind of stress on your body. You undergo a lot of hormonal changes, which cause loss of hair. More than during pregnancy, it is after delivery that you suffer loss of hair. Within a few months, you will recover from this.
5) Running in generations:
In your family, if the women have been facing hair loss at a certain age, you also stand a high risk of being affected by hair loss. It is called female pattern hair loss, or androgenic or androgenetic alopecia. Minoxidil helps grow and maintain hair, so you can use it.
6) Excess intake of Vitamin A:
Having too much of Vitamin A is also a cause of hair loss. Having medications or supplements with too much of this vitamin will cause your hair to fall. Once you stop these medications, your hair will grow back. It is reversible, and you need not worry too much.
7) Stress due to emotional problems:
Being stressed emotionally is a severe problem. It triggers hair loss more than the physical stress. Reducing stress will reverse the issue. So, learn to take it easy and try some stress relieving techniques.
8) Effects of blood thinners, antidepressants and other drugs:
Medications of any kind may cause your hair to fall. If you find any such problems, consult your doctor and ask him what to do next.
9) Lack of Vitamin B:
If your body in deficient in Vitamin B, you could have hair loss. There are a large number of foods rich in vitamin B. Change your diet and include these foods and other supplements to cure the deficiency.
10) Hormonal problems:
Hormonal changes by starting or stopping birth control pills, menopause and other such instances can be a reason for hair loss. If this happens on starting or stopping any pills, consult your doctor.
11) Immune system being overactive:
If your immune system is too active, it may target your hair by confusing it for a foreign object. This condition is called alopecia areata. You can consult a doctor and have some injections or other medications to combat the issue.
12) Being anemic:
Anemia is due to deficiency of iron. This is a common issue prevalent among women. It causes hair loss. Any iron supplements will offer a cure for the issue.
13) Lupus:
This is also an autoimmune disease, similar to the one above. But in this type, the hair loss is permanent, and the hair will not grow back. You can try changing your hair style or something to cover the patches.
14) After effects of Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer, but it has a lot of side effects, among which hair loss is most common. Your hair will grow back after your treatment is completed. The new hair can be of a different texture or color.
15) Using steroids:
A large number of athletes use steroid illegally. This can affect you hair to a great extent. Stop using these drugs and your hair will get back to normal.
16) Imbalance of sex hormones:
Having too much of androgens may cause cysts in the ovary, gain of weight, diabetic risk, infertility and also changes in your menstrual cycle. Hair loss is also a consequence. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can be treated by changing the diet, doing enough exercise, and other ways.
17) Excessive loss in weight:
Weight loss also causes a stress on your body, and can trigger hair loss. Eat well and the condition will slowly become reversed by itself.
18) Impulse control disorder:
This is trichotillomania, in which people pull their own hair. This affects the hair and makes it weak. You need behavioral therapy to combat this. Antidepressants may also provide some solution.
19) Styling too much:
Using treatments on your all the time will make your hair weak and brittle. Curling, straightening, perming, smoothening and using too many chemicals and stuff are really damaging. Avoid these as much as possible, use a conditioner after every shampoo session and let your hair dry naturally.
20) Getting old:
Your hair becomes thin and weak as you grow old. It is a natural process and treatment I not recommended. You can use wigs, or scarves to cover this.
Understand the cause of your hair fall issue and treat accordingly. Keep healthy and stay happy.
I’m interested in the author of this article- some valid points are raised. I wonder where the practitioner practices?
Hi Shuna,
Thanks for your comment here. I’m neither a practitioner nor a Doctor. All these information is collected from various sources on internet, and some written based on personal experiences from myself as well 🙂