Female Hair Loss And Its Causes

Female hair loss is harder to pinpoint than it is in men.  Fortunately, in many cases, female hair loss can be successfully treated.  One of the most common reasons for female hair loss is called androgenetic (also known as androgenic) alopecia. It's defined as an inherited sensitivity to the effects of male hormones on hair follicles.

Androgenetic alopecia is a term which is scarcely used for women these days. Instead, female pattern baldness substitutes the original term. Female pattern baldness is thought to be linked to excess of testosterone. In women, however, androgenetic alopecia does not cause total baldness as it does in men.

Women and Hair Loss – Causes

Women who experience hair loss may see the first signs occurring as early as puberty. The reason for the hair loss, however, stem from different causes than those in men. Precise diagnosis is required and a hair loss treatment put into action to prevent permanent hair loss.

Some of the common causes of female hair loss are:

Trichotillomania (Impulse control disorder)

This psychological disorder originates from emotional problems. It represents a repeated urge to pull body hair out. Hair loss can be prevented only after addressing the emotional problems of the woman.

Scarring alopecia

This is common in African and Asian women who wear their hair tightly braided and pulled back. The roots of so tightly-braided hair become weak over time leaving patches of baldness in the scalp.

Women may experience hair loss due to stress and hormonal changes in their bodies.

In this phase called telogen effluvium, the hair sits loosely on the scalp and can be pulled out very easily. The natural hair growth system may be affected by childbirth duties, crash dieting, surgery or even emotional distress.  Luckily, this temporary shedding phase can be stopped and reversed with proper medication, psychological help and a return to eating a balanced diet.

Female hair loss may also be hereditary. Chemotherapy, illness in general and special restricted diets may all affect woman's healthy hair growth. Diabetics tend to lose hair because of the reaction of diabetes medicines.

Socially, female hair loss is seen much more "unusual" than male hair loss.  As a result, women may develop fears and anxiety that makes the condition worsen even more. Stress-reducing activities reestablishing inner calm help combat anxiety. There are millions of women around the world who suffer from hair loss and chose an effective hair loss treatment program to overcome and deal with the problem.