Understanding the Cause of Female Hair Loss
Hair loss is a condition that affects both men and women.
Statistics indicate that forty percent of American women experience hair loss before they reach the age of forty.
Female hair loss may be surprising to some because very few bald women are seen in public.
Female and male pattern baldness is collectively known as androgenic alopecia.
In the past, it was believed to be caused by the male hormone testosterone, which is predominantly found in males.
However, recent studies have shown that although the said hormone contributes to this condition, the main cause is its derivative dihydrotestosterone or DHT.
DHT is formed when testosterone combines with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
When DHT is created and binds to receptors in the hair follicles, it causes the size of the follicles to decrease and healthy hair cannot grow anymore.
It is not the amount of male hormones or androgens that determines the formation of DHT.
If this was the case, then this cause of female hair loss would be rare in women because they only have trace amounts of this hormone in their bodies.
Ideally, hormonal levels in the body should be in balance.
Otherwise, problems can arise because an imbalance makes the formation of DHT more probable.
This imbalance can be caused by pregnancy, disease, medications and extreme stress.
The amount of hormones present in the body follows a cycle and can be a cause of female hair loss.
In women, the level decreases as menopause nears and drops significantly during menopause itself the years after that.
These phases can affect the effectiveness of treatments Contraceptives can trigger hair loss too, when they suppress ovulation and cause the shifts in the levels of estrogen and progestin in the body.
The shedding of hair can occur while on it or even months after stopping.
Even if the pill is an approved drug to prevent pregnancy, women who are predisposed to alopecia should be made aware of this risk when contraceptives are prescribed.
This does not mean that these women cannot take contraceptives.
There are brands which are classified as low-adrogen index birth control pills and these should be seriously considered as viable options.
What should be avoided are progestin implants, hormone injections, skin patches and vaginal rings.
Once the cause of female hair loss is determined, it is advisable to start treatment immediately, when only a few follicles have been damaged.
It is important to prevent further damage and stimulate growth in the follicles that are still capable of doing so.
Most treatments focus on fighting against androgens and should be continuous; otherwise, hair loss will resume.
To complement treatment, doctors recommend maintaining adequate amount of vitamins and minerals in the body, to increase effectiveness.
By having a better understanding of the cause of female hair loss, women can be made aware that taking preventive measures is important so that they would not have to go through the ordeal of losing hair.
Statistics indicate that forty percent of American women experience hair loss before they reach the age of forty.
Female hair loss may be surprising to some because very few bald women are seen in public.
Female and male pattern baldness is collectively known as androgenic alopecia.
In the past, it was believed to be caused by the male hormone testosterone, which is predominantly found in males.
However, recent studies have shown that although the said hormone contributes to this condition, the main cause is its derivative dihydrotestosterone or DHT.
DHT is formed when testosterone combines with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
When DHT is created and binds to receptors in the hair follicles, it causes the size of the follicles to decrease and healthy hair cannot grow anymore.
It is not the amount of male hormones or androgens that determines the formation of DHT.
If this was the case, then this cause of female hair loss would be rare in women because they only have trace amounts of this hormone in their bodies.
Ideally, hormonal levels in the body should be in balance.
Otherwise, problems can arise because an imbalance makes the formation of DHT more probable.
This imbalance can be caused by pregnancy, disease, medications and extreme stress.
The amount of hormones present in the body follows a cycle and can be a cause of female hair loss.
In women, the level decreases as menopause nears and drops significantly during menopause itself the years after that.
These phases can affect the effectiveness of treatments Contraceptives can trigger hair loss too, when they suppress ovulation and cause the shifts in the levels of estrogen and progestin in the body.
The shedding of hair can occur while on it or even months after stopping.
Even if the pill is an approved drug to prevent pregnancy, women who are predisposed to alopecia should be made aware of this risk when contraceptives are prescribed.
This does not mean that these women cannot take contraceptives.
There are brands which are classified as low-adrogen index birth control pills and these should be seriously considered as viable options.
What should be avoided are progestin implants, hormone injections, skin patches and vaginal rings.
Once the cause of female hair loss is determined, it is advisable to start treatment immediately, when only a few follicles have been damaged.
It is important to prevent further damage and stimulate growth in the follicles that are still capable of doing so.
Most treatments focus on fighting against androgens and should be continuous; otherwise, hair loss will resume.
To complement treatment, doctors recommend maintaining adequate amount of vitamins and minerals in the body, to increase effectiveness.
By having a better understanding of the cause of female hair loss, women can be made aware that taking preventive measures is important so that they would not have to go through the ordeal of losing hair.