Causes of Hair Loss in Women – What to Look Out For
Hair loss in women is a common occurrence that usually happens with age. The hair on our head naturally falls out every day, but if the rate at which it happens becomes too fast, it can be a sign of something more serious. It’s important to know what could have triggered your hair loss so you can take the necessary measures to prevent further damage and retain as much hair as possible.
There are many reasons why you might be losing your hair. This article will help you identify the reason for your hair loss and provide some tips on how to deal with it.
Let’s get started.
Genetics
Your genes are responsible for many aspects of your hair, including its strength, length, and thickness. If your parents have thinning hair, likely, you will too, especially if you are of Asian or African descent.
If you have very thick hair, you may have a genetic predisposition to a condition called hypertrichosis, which causes excessive hair. Hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and stress can also cause genetic hair loss.
Because genetics play such a huge role in hair health, if you notice excessive shedding, you should consult your doctor to see if it could be a result of your family’s genetics.
Stress
Stress is a common cause of hair loss amongst both men and women. Stress has many effects on the body, including the immune system, the digestive system, and hormone production.
Hair follicles are small tubules in the skin that produce hair. During times of stress, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. These hormones are helpful in extreme circumstances, like when you need to run away from a bear or lift a car off of a loved one.
However, when these hormones are constantly circulating in the body, they harm the body, both physically and mentally. When cortisol and adrenaline are overproduced, they can cause hair to fall out at an accelerated rate.
Medical Conditions
Many medical conditions can cause hair loss, including certain types of medication, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, and iron deficiency.
Automatic Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by a virus that weakens the immune system. As the immune system loses power, it can’t fight off illness and disease as effectively, which can lead to hair loss.
Hormonal Imbalance, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and iron deficiency can all cause an imbalance of hormones, which can lead to hair loss.
Nutritional Deficiencies
If you aren’t getting enough nutrients from your diet, your body will begin to slow down in different ways, including the growth of hair. Your hair needs specific vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, especially iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. If you’re not getting enough of these vitamins and minerals in your diet, it can cause your hair to thin and fall out.
Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency that can cause hair loss. Iron is found in red meat, green leafy vegetables, and iron-fortified foods, like cereal and bread. If you aren’t getting enough of these foods in your diet, you could be at risk for iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency can also occur when you take certain medications, such as birth control, thyroid medication, and antidepressants. Consult your doctor if you think you may be suffering from an iron deficiency.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalances can cause hair loss by affecting the rate at which new hair grows. Hormonal hair loss most commonly affects women, who experience it during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, or when taking birth control.
Hormonal hair loss is often accompanied by other signs, like skin changes, mood changes, and weight gain. If you’re experiencing hair loss and aren’t sure why you need to consider consulting a doctor to see if it could be a hormonal imbalance.
Environmental Factors
Your environment can cause hair loss in a few different ways. First, air pollution, like vehicle exhaust, can contribute to hair loss and thinning. Next, poor hygiene, like poor hand washing and poor hair care, can cause hair to get dirty and become susceptible to infection, causing it to fall out.
If you experience hair loss after moving to a new area, the environment could be causing the hair loss. While your hair loss might not be permanent, it’s important to take steps to protect your hair from the harmful effects of your surroundings.
Coping with Hair Loss
Hair loss is a normal process for everyone. You will lose hair every day, but you will continually grow new hair to replace it. When you lose more hair than you grow, however, that is when you need to take action.
There are many reasons why you may be losing your hair, including genetics, stress, poor nutrition, and environmental factors. If you are experiencing hair loss, it is important to identify the cause as soon as possible so you can take the necessary steps to prevent further thinning.
Luckily, there are many different treatments available to help combat hair loss, so you are guaranteed to find something that works for you.
Dr. Sharon Keene leads the team at Physician’s Hair Institute. She is a pioneer and expert in hair restoration with over 25 years of experience.
Get in touch with us today and get started with hair restoration.
