Hair Loss Advice
"Your Hair - YOUR Choice"
The Truth About Women and Hair Loss
Women are often judged by their hair styles. If a woman doesn't bother to style her hair, she may be looked upon as frumpy or careless. The woman that has a new style every week is often considered "high maintenance" or stylish. Therefore, hair is very important to a woman. It is definitely her crowning glory. So if a woman starts to lose her hair it can be devastating to her emotionally. Read on to discover the truth about women and hair loss.
Hair loss in women is becoming a more common problem. According to the American Academy of Dermatology hair loss affects about 30 million women in the United States. The age at which women start to lose their hair is getting younger and younger. What is causing this hair loss in women?
The hair has a growth cycle that alternates between a resting phase and a growth phase. It is after the resting phase that the hair will fall out and a new hair will take it's place. However, when something interrupts the hair growth cycle the result will be hair loss. Sometimes the hair loss will be permanent.
For years, male and female pattern baldness was thought to be caused from the same genetic predispositions. A hormone imbalance would cause build up of dihydrotestosterone or DHT which would bind to the receptors deep inside the hair follicle . This DHT buildup would eventually cause the hair follicle to shrink, and it would alter the natural resting and growth phase of the hair. The result would be gradual hair loss.
But recently studies have shown that hair loss in women is caused by a different set of circumstances in comparison to men. Women and hair loss is still being studied but preliminary results suggest that certain enzymes found in a women's body may contribute to the hair loss.
Women are more likely to develop autoimmune disorders such as lupus which can cause hair loss. It is very important that any woman who notices thinning hair sees her doctor right away because it may be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Evidence suggests that women who have polycystic ovary syndrome will have no other symptoms except for hair loss.
Another point about women and hair loss is that childbirth is a stressful situation that can cause the hair to fall out. In addition, women are more likely to follow "crash" diets to lose those few extra pounds. Hair loss can occur with these diets.
The causes behind women and hair loss are unique in comparison to men and hair loss. Don't let your doctor tell you that men and women are the same when it comes to hair loss. If you are a woman that is experiencing hair loss, you should insist that your doctor do a complete workup on you to find the cause.
