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Combing Through the Causes of Female Hair Loss

December 10, 2020

Have you ever looked with alarm at your hairbrush or shower drain and wondered if you’re losing your hair? To be sure, some hair loss is normal. The average person sheds up to 100 strands a day through the routine cycle of loss and regrowth. 

But what happens when those losses start outnumbering the replacements? You may notice a widening part or a thinning ponytail. Alopecia, or hair loss, can be influenced by a variety of factors. The root cause will have a lot to say about whether the losses can be stopped or reversed.

Why Your Hair Falls Out

We’re all born with a set number of hair follicles. Our hair thickness, texture and strength can all be traced back to the health of those follicles. Damage can be caused by a range of factors, including medications and hormonal interruptions to the natural growth cycle. When that happens, hair growth can slow, or stop altogether. The most common causes:

  • Poor Nutrition. Medical studies have shown that an unbalanced diet or vitamin deficiency can contribute to hair loss. Low levels of iron, zinc, protein, biotin and vitamin B can have an impact. When these deficits are returned to optimal levels, hair growth will often return to normal.

  • Topical Damage. Some losses can be traced to the way women care for their hair. Overprocessing or excessive styling with heat tools can damage follicles or cause strands to become brittle. Women who wear weaves, hair extensions or even tight ponytails can experience traction alopecia, a type of hair loss caused by prolonged stress on the follicle. This is particularly troublesome for African-American women (one third have experienced it) because of traditional hair styling methods. Dry scalp from psoriasis also can be a problem.

  • Medications. Thinning hair can be a side effect of medications or stress brought on by another illness, causing additional hair to shed. This can be caused by physiological or physical stresses related to surgery, emotional shock or medication. Telogen effluvium, which is sometimes associated with hyperthyroidism, is a common cause of hair loss that’s most often linked to stress or traumatic events. It generally lasts only three to six months. 

  • Hormonal. The most common form of hair loss — female pattern hair loss (FPHL) — affects 40 percent of women over age 50. It’s primarily the result of heredity or hormonal shifts from childbirth, birth control or menopause. It causes hair follicles to shrink, making hair appear thinner, while allowing more scalp to be visible. It’s similar to male pattern baldness, but usually does not affect the peripheral hairline. Instead, it thins the hair on the crown of the head. 

Will it Come Back? 

Will your hair grow back? The answer depends on the root cause of the loss. In cases brought on by dietary or medication issues, growth often resumes once the situation is corrected. For hair loss stemming from scarring conditions, the damage is generally permanent. For everyone else, there are a few encouraging options, including:

  • Topical minoxidil is considered the first-line treatment. It’s sold over-the-counter as a cream or foam that is applied daily.

  • Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy, injects a patient’s own plasma into the affected areas to bolster blood supply to the damaged follicles.

  • Hair transplant surgery also is an option should other methods fail to deliver desired results.

Watch for Changes

The best defense against this increasingly common issue lies in taking preventive measures and keeping an eye on what’s happening with your head of hair. The sooner you notice any losses, the greater your doctor’s options for helping with repair or recovery.

 

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