CAUSES OF WOMEN'S HAIR LOSS
Women’s thinning hair can often be cause for discouragement. No woman ever wants to find that her hairline is receding, or that she’s developing some thin patches at the crown of her head. While female hair loss does happen, it never has to be permanent. Solutions exist, and the first step is simply determining the underlying cause of the hair loss.
This isn’t quite as straightforward as diagnosing male hair loss. Men’s hair loss is most often caused by male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. In fact, this condition accounts for more than 90 percent of all male hair loss cases! With hair loss in women, the causes can be a little bit more varied and difficult to predict.
Female pattern hair loss is certainly an option, and it works in a similar way to its male equivalent. Basically, this condition is caused by an overabundance of DHT, a testosterone byproduct that impedes the normal growth/rest cycle of the follicles. This can cause your follicles to shed at a higher-than-average rate even as new hair growth is significantly slowed, eventually ceasing completely. This condition is generally thought to be genetic, and while it cannot be cured, there are plenty of options for total hair restoration.
Female hair loss may also be caused by the side effects of medical treatment. Women who must go through radiation or chemotherapy can expect there to be some hair loss; sometimes this hair will grow back once treatment stops, though not always. Additionally, there are a number of prescription medications that have been shown to cause hair loss.
Rare autoimmune disorders may also be the cause of hair loss. Alopecia totalis and alopecia univeralis both involve the body trying to destroy its own hair follicles, and can result in hair loss all across the body, not just on the scalp. While these conditions are uncommon, the results can be extreme.
Another condition to be aware of is trichotillomania. This is a form of nervous disorder, similar in some ways to OCD, and it involves an uncontrollable desire to pull or twist one’s own hair. Over time, this constant tugging can scar the follicles, making hair loss permanent.
Lifestyle factors should also be considered. Something as simple as poor nutrition may be the underlying cause of weak, brittle, or thinning hair. Seasons of intense stress may sometimes result in hair loss. And, the way you wear your hair can ultimately be damaging. Tight buns, braids, or ponytails can result in traction alopecia, which scars the follicles and impedes future hair growth.
No matter the cause of women’s thinning hair, a solution is always available. The first step is joining us at New-U Hair Restoration Specialists, where we’ll take a look at your scalp, talk with you about your hair loss history, and develop some individualized approaches to combatting your hair loss. We are always happy to discuss surgical and non-surgical options alike, and to help you find a hair loss solution with which you feel completely comfortable.
Schedule a FREE Consultation
Are you curious to know what’s causing your hair to thin? Or do you just want to find a viable hair restoration solution? Either way, we welcome you to New-U Hair Restoration Specialists in Rochester, NY. We’d love to meet you, discuss your history of hair loss, and show you some of the best solutions that can help you look and feel like yourself again. The first step is to contact us for an appointment in our comfortable and confidential studio space. To schedule a FREE consultation with a New-U stylist, please reach out to us at your next opportunity.