Yes, Women Lose Hair Too – Here’s How to Fix it

Guest post by Scott Bampton

 
We’ve all seen the TV ads. And the Facebook ads. And the magazine ads. Hair loss is a primarily male concern.

Right?

Well, it is and it isn’t. While men are statistically far more susceptible to thinning and balding, women are by no means safe. Medical conditions, pregnancy and just straight-up old age can cause varying degrees of shedding. The good news is that not all of them are serious, irreversible or unmanageable. Here are some of the top causes and some suggestions on how to deal with them…

 

 

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB)

 
The lesser-known cousin of male pattern baldness, FPB affects roughly 30% of Caucasian adults and tends to be more pronounced later in life. Hair is lost evenly across the scalp and despite the name, men can also suffer from FPB.

Suggested Treatments

Your hair will become physically thinner before they disappear, so hair thickener fibres can keep your locks looking lush for as long as possible. Also, a new volumizing hairstyle can help hide the effects of FPB.

 

 

Alopecia Areata

 
A condition that affects both sexes, Alopecia Areata (AA) causes 0.1% – 0.2% of the population’s hair to fall out in circular patches. While it’s not been 100% confirmed, doctors believe AA is hereditary; in most cases, hair grows back within a few months to a year.

Suggested Treatments

There’s no cure for AA and the majority of sufferers do experience regrowth, so in most cases, doctors will recommend short-term management options.
 

Thyroid Problems

 
Ok, don’t panic – but if you’ve noticed a large amount of shedding, it’s worth getting tested for hyperthyroidism and autoimmune diseases. These nasty ailments throw your hormones into chaos, which in turn can cause hair to fall out (as well as weight loss and other awful side effects).

Suggested Treatments

Upon diagnosis, a doctor can provide treatment advice.

 

 

Pregnancy

 
Those good old hormones are to blame yet again (don’t you just love them?) for post-partem hair loss. In the three to six months after giving birth, the hair-retaining hormones that keep your hair so unusually thick and lush throughout pregnancy drop back to normal levels. This causes all that extra hair you’ve grown to hit the floor, quick sharp.

Suggested Treatments

Don’t worry, you’re not going bald, just returning to normal. But it’s better to go easy on the hair dryer and straightening iron while you’re in the transition phase.
 

Side Effects of Medication

 
It’s easy to skim read and instantly discount those warnings on anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants and other medications. While the chances may be slim, that small print is there for a reason – somebody somewhere has experienced that exact side-effect.

A phenomenon known as Telogen Effluvium can occur when certain medications are taken or after stressful life events. The result is your hair shifting more rapidly than normal into the ‘resting phase’ of growth, which is quickly followed by the shedding phase.

Suggested Treatments

Again, medical advice is the only option. Your doctor may switch your prescription or recommend anxiety-reduction measures, depending on the determined cause.