40% of women will experience noticeable hair loss at some point in their lives.
This affliction, otherwise thought of as a men's issue, is a problem for approximately half of all women during their lifetimes.
What can cause hair loss in women? Is it different from what causes hair loss in men?
In this blog post, we'll go over some of the common reasons women experience hair loss, as well as what you can do about it.
Read on for tips and tricks to help you understand what's going on your scalp just a little bit better, as well as a few suggestions for what you can do about it.
1. Having a Baby
If you've just had a baby and are experiencing hair loss, rest assured that this is normal. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with the sleep you're losing due to your little one waking up every few hours or the stress you're experiencing from being a new mom.
In fact, hair loss after childbirth isn't technically hair loss, though it certainly seems like it.
When you're pregnant, your body experiences a surge of estrogen. In this phase, everything in your body is growing to support the baby, including your hair. As such, your hair doesn't experience normal growth and shedding cycles that you typically do when you're not pregnant.
There's then a resting phase, in which the hair stops growing, but doesn't quite go back to its normal growth cycle. During this phase, you'll have thick luscious hair. If you've always had thin hair and wanted thick tresses, you'll definitely want to commemorate this part of your life.
After you give birth to your child, your estrogen levels slowly return to normal, which also means a normal growth and shed cycle. Your hair will begin to shed normally, but because you've accumulated so much hair, it will feel like you're losing your hair. You may notice more shedding when you brush or comb your hair or when you wash your hair. You may even notice hair on your pillow or other places.
Don't worry; this is completely normal. You don't need to do anything except keeping yourself healthy for your little one, and everything will even out. Little by little, you'll notice less hair loss and a normal grow and shed cycle will resume.
2. Genetics
Unfortunately, for some women, losing their hair is part of their genetics, like it is with men. While we think of male pattern baldness as something men experience, women experience is sometimes as well.
We're generally powerless to genetics in these situations, but you may be able to speak to your doctor about treatments or medications you can take. These may help a little bit, but they can't fix it completely. But, the sooner you notice it and pinpoint the cause as genetic, the better. Then, you can begin the treatment and hopefully help stop it from getting worse.
You'll need to speak to your doctor if you believe you're suffering from genetic hair loss, as only they can diagnose it and prescribe medication to help.
3. Hair Styles Like Braids and Up-Dos
If you have a young daughter, you've probably heard of Jojo Siwa, the Internet sensation with a target audience of grade-school girls and a signature high ponytail topped off with a big bow. But why are we mentioning her in an article about hair loss?
Well, Jojo Siwa's constant high ponytail has led some to speculate that she's begun to lose some of her hair because of it. Many people have pointed out that the teen sensation's hairline has begun to recede due to her high pony. She's been the subject of Photoshops wherein her blonde hair is replaced with a bald head.
While this might be in a bit of good fun, at the expense of Siwa, there is some traction, no pun intended, to this.
Hairstyles in which the hair is pulled at by the root, including cornrows and high ponytails, can lead to something called traction alopecia. If done repeatedly over a long period of time, it can cause permanent hair loss.
How do you avoid it? Well, that's an easy one: wear your hair down every so often and give it a break. If you notice you're developing hair loss due to your hairstyles, consider styling it in ways that doesn't pull at the root.
4. Medications
Some medications have hair loss or excessive hair shedding as a side effect. If it is a common side effect, your doctor will probably tell you before you start the medication. Sometimes, however, you may be experiencing hair loss and may not realize it is your medication until after you've done some research about the medicine.
Medications that are known to commonly cause hair shedding are those for arthritis, high blood pressure and depression. If you think your medication is causing hair loss and you'd prefer to explore other options, speak with your doctor.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an umbrella term for strong medications used to treat cancer. In some cases, this medication is used to treat other serious illnesses.
Chemotherapy is long associated with hair loss, and most chemotherapy, especially in high doses, leads to total baldness. However, not all chemotherapy does, so it is important that you understand how yours will affect your hair if this is something important to you. Fortunately, your hair typically grows back once the chemo is finished.
5. Malnutrition and Not Getting the Proper Vitamins
Malnutrition, especially as linked to the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, can cause hair loss.
When your body is not getting enough nutrition, it will begin to shut down functions that are not necessary for immediate survival. Some of the first functions to go are that of the menstrual cycle and hair growth.
Those who have advanced anorexia nervosa may experience severe hair loss that can lead to thin, dull hair and bald spots. However, those who have poor nutrition can also experience dull, dry hair--and one does not have to b anorexic to lack proper nutrition.
If your body is not getting the correct vitamins, this may also lead to dull, dry hair and excess shedding.
If you think you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder, dull and dry hair may be a clue to help you piece everything together. But you or your loved one must receive help, as eating disorders can be fatal.
For those who are simply not getting the proper nutrition to make their hair luscious and beautiful, they may wish to try a hair vitamin like . A hair vitamin may help them increase the vitamins in their system that help their hair grow and look nice.
If you're concerned about your health, you must speak to a doctor, as hair vitamin may help, but may not be enough to restore all of the nutrients you're missing.
6. Too Many Chemical Procedures
Overprocessing your hair can, unfortunately, cause hair loss. Do it too often, and this hair loss may become permanent.
These chemical procedures are many, and including chemically straightening your hair, perming your hair too often, relaxing it or bleaching it. Those who often wear their hair in unnatural colors for years may also experience this as if they don't have blonde hair to begin with; they need to bleach their hair for the color to stick to it.
Do this too often, and your hair follicles might become damaged, meaning that they'll never recover. As such, you may have permanent hair loss or hair breakage, and your hair may never fully grow back.
To ensure that this doesn't happen to you, you should try to avoid these types of hair processing. It can be difficult to do so, especially if you find something that you feel suits you well. But with well-made wigs now, you may wish to consider wearing fake hair or extensions so that you can keep your hair looking the way you want without damaging it.
So, What Can Cause Hair Loss in Women?
In this article, we've only exposed the very tip of the iceberg in answering the question, "What can cause hair loss in women?" This article has only provided a few answers, and the list is long and may be different for each individual if you believe that your hair is falling out and you're not sure why, speak to your doctor, as they know your health history better than anyone else.
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