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The words ‘hair loss’ or ‘balding’ are commonly associated with men, but it may surprise you to know that this condition affects many women. We just don’t notice it as much because women cover up the problem by wearing wigs, other hair-pieces, hats, or weaves. Let’s look at what causes hair loss in women.

At the first sign of hair loss, a woman should immediately consult a doctor because it is imperative to establish the cause. If the cause is detected early, the condition may have a chance of being reversed before permanent balding occurs. Unlike men, women have a better chance of reversal.

Hair loss is medically referred to as alopecia. Very prevalent in women is traction alopecia. As the name suggests, the follicles are literally pulled by wigs, tight-fitting hats, or weaves. The follicles cannot stand up to this long-term stress and eventually fall out. Some fancy hairstyles can bring on traction alopecia.

Even tight-fitting hats will put strain on the follicles. Alopecia in men is also frequently caused by hats that fit too tightly. Women wishing to keep a full head of hair should therefore take heed of these causes. The bottom line is don’t put undue stress on your hair for long periods of time.

Women may be prone to a temporary loss of hair during their menstrual cycle, or because of a hormonal imbalance. The temporary loss of hair is referred to as telogen effiuvium. Other causes include medication side-effects, stress (both physical and emotional) as well as some thyroid conditions.

Another type of alopecia that affects women is alopecia Areata – this is when hair loss occurs in random areas of the head. A weak immune system or a deficiency in nutrients or minerals can bring on this condition, rendering the follicles incapable of fighting back. A healthy diet combined with mineral and vitamin supplements usually resolves this.

Bearing all this information in mind, it is clear that the quicker a doctor is consulted to treat alopecia, the better. Thinning of the hair often occurs during the menstrual cycle. It can also be a side-effect of oral contraception, or at the onset of menopause. In such cases, treatment is usually successful.

Finally, female alopecia can be genetic (as with men) due to too much testosterone. The excess testosterone is converted to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which kills off the hair follicles. Research is still underway to find a treatment to prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Learn more about what causes hair loss in women. Stop by John Farikani’s site where you can find out all about hair loss and what it can do for you. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service