What You Need to Know About Female Hair Loss

There is no need to be ashamed if you are a lady who is currently experiencing some hair loss. You are not alone. More women than we actually think are suffering from female hair loss. This and many other facts of baldness on women should be properly understood.

Social Stereotype

The main reason why we rarely hear of or even imagine women suffering from the condition is because of the prevailing social stereotype. Of course, short hairstyles are now socially acceptable for females. Baldness however is not. It is quite common for us to think that women should have thick, luxurious hair regardless of age and hairstyle. This is probably why those with thinning hair simply prefer to keep mum about their conditions. The truth is however, 1 in 4 women suffer from the condition. It is therefore as common as loss of hair in men.

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Hair Loss Myths

Frequent hair treatments, hair styling and coloring, according to enduring belief, are some of the most common causes. Frequent handling of hair in these ways may really result in hair breakage near the scalp. Hair damage of this kind however is not permanent. Hair will eventually grow back and the worst that may result in over treating hair would be hair dryness and probably split ends.

Other Causes

There are many different causes of loss of hair in women. The most commonly believed causes, however, may actually be responsible for only 5% of such cases. These causes include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, traction alopecia and trichotillomania.

One autoimmune disorder is the Alopecia areata which results to bald patches and/or diffused thinning. Telogen effluvium is another condition in which numerous hair strands shift from the growing phase into the falling phase. Traction alopecia is the result of tight hairstyles like ponytails, buns and braids in which large amounts of hair are pulled off. This may eventually lead to scarring alopecia in which areas of the scalp become scarred. Trichotillomania is a serious psychological condition which is characterized by chronic hair pulling which can lead to bald areas.

Most Common Cause

Hormonal changes also cause 95% of women's baldness. Estrogen level imbalances, an over or under active thyroid gland, child birth, menopause and hormonal therapies may be the culprits in female baldness.

Difference with Male Hair Loss

Although baldness in women caused by hormonal factors may be a common condition in women, it should be understood that the time and age for such condition is different than in men. Women may suffer from it as soon as they hit their early twenties. Most women who suffer from loss of hair also do not frequently develop bald patches.

Women's hair loss is usually diffused and thinning only on certain areas like the front hairline, the top of the scalp or the back of the head. Having severe and wide bald spots may be a sign that you need to see your doctor.