What Causes Excessive Hair Loss In Women

Intense Emotional Or Physical Stress

When you’re experiencing something stressful or traumaticnot your average day-to-day stress, but something big and life-altering like a divorce, a death in the family, a significant job change, or a big moveyou may experience a temporary halt in hair growth as your body puts its resources toward getting you through said big event.

“Hairs dont all grow at the same rate,” Dr. Schlosser explains. “Some are growing, some are resting, and some are actively being shed. When you have these conditions, your body halts hair growth, and then things get restarted and all these hairs that have been halted start to get pushed out at the same time.” The same thing can happen with physical stress and trauma, like having a big operation, being hospitalized, or even losing a significant amount of weight very quickly.

Usually this type of hair shedding is temporary. But if it bothers you, check in with a dermatologist to learn more about styling changes and products you can use to make your hair look and feel fuller.

How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done

The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:

• Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
• Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
• Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
• Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.

Underlying Causes For Hair Loss

Numerous problems can trigger female hair loss. Some are external, such as taking certain medications, frequently wearing hairstyles that pull the hair too tight, or even a stressful event such as surgery. In other cases, thinning hair is triggered by something going on inside the body for instance, a thyroid problem, a shift in hormones, a recent pregnancy, or an inflammatory condition.

Hair loss may also be genetic. The most common genetic condition is known as female-pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia. Women with this condition might notice a widening of the part at the top of the head, often beginning when a woman is in her 40s or 50s. You might experience this if you inherit certain genes from one or both parents. Hormonal shifts that occur during menopause may also spur it.

Another trigger for hair loss in women is an inflammatory condition affecting the scalp. That might be eczema, psoriasis, or a condition called frontal fibrosing alopecia, which typically causes scarring and hair loss sometimes permanent at the front of the scalp above the forehead.

Other common causes of hair loss include overuse of damaging hair products, or tools such as dryers and other devices that heat the hair. Underlying illness, autoimmune conditions such as lupus, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances may also cause hair to shed.

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Tips To Stop Excessive Hair Shedding

Here are some tips you can use to volumize your hair

• Maintain strict scalp hygiene. Depending on how oily or dry your scalp is, only wash as frequently as required.
• Consult a dermatologist who can help you choose the right shampoo and conditioner based on the quality of your scalp.
• Do not tie your hair immediately after washing your hair as the hair breaks easily when wet. Avoid high-tension hairstyles as it can lead to traction and irreversible hair loss.
• Avoid hair breakage. Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle curly hair.
• Do not go on quick weight loss diets or crash diets as they can also trigger hair shedding.
• Avoid colouring or straightening your hair frequently. If you must, make sure you keep a gap of 2-3 months between each treatment.
• Air dry your hair after a bath. Excessive blow drying, especially with hot air, can damage hair quality. If it is unavoidable, use your hair dryer on cool mode.

Dandruff Or Scalp Psoriasis

When the skin on the scalp is inflamed and itchy, its obviously tempting to scratch it. But that may cause your hair to shed more than usual.

Dandruff is the most easily treated cause of hair loss, Dr. Fusco says, because you can treat it with over-the-counter products, like a shampoo containing zinc pyrithione or exfoliating ingredients such as the classic Head & Shoulders Classic or Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo . “Consistency is the trick,” Dr. Fusco says, so it’s important to find a shampoo and conditioner you like enough to use regularly.

But other conditions can also cause itchiness and scalp flaking, including seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis . Treating these issues may take more time and effort than dandruff, so its important to check in with a dermatologist if you think you may be dealing with one of these conditions.

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Signs Of Hair Loss In Women

• Overall thinning on the top of your head. Men notice bald spots more commonly, while women will see a difference in density.
• Bald patches can be seen in some cases.
• If you have gone through emotional trauma in the recent past, you may notice your hair falling in clumps in the shower or while brushing it.
• Complete hair loss can also be seen post a few medical treatments like chemotherapy.

Hair Shedding Often Stops On Its Own

Its normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium.

Excessive hair shedding is common in people who have experienced one the following stressors:

• Lost 20 pounds or more

• Given birth

• Experiencing lots of stress

• Had high fever

• Recovering from an illness, especially if it included high fever

• Stopped taking birth-control pills

Most people notice the excessive hair shedding a few months after the stressful event. For example, a new mom can see excessive hair shedding about two months after giving birth. The shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. This shedding is normal and temporary.

As your body readjusts, the excessive shedding stops. Within six to nine months, the hair tends to regains its normal fullness.

If the stressor stays with you, however, hair shedding can be long lived. People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding.

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Other Symptoms That Help With Diagnosis

You may also experience a range of other symptoms if your hair loss is caused by an underlying condition.

• Hypothyroidism may cause anything from fatigue to weight gain, muscle weakness to joint swelling.
• Ringworm may cause scaly and painful gray or red patches on the scalp.
• Celiacdisease may cause anything from mouth ulcers to headaches, skin rashes to anemia.
• Hodgkinsdisease may cause symptoms like fever, night sweats, and swelling of the lymph nodes.

Your doctor will take into account the other symptoms youre experiencing besides hair loss to help pinpoint the cause. This may involve anything from a physical examination to blood tests to scalp biopsies.

Some conditions, like celiac disease, may be genetically inherited. If you have a family history of a condition that leads to hair loss, be sure to mention it to your doctor.

How To Stop Thinning Hair: Hair Loss Treatment For Women

Medications are the most common treatment for hair loss in women. They include the following:

Minoxidil . This drug was initially introduced as a treatment for high blood pressure, but people who took it noticed that they were growing hair in places where they had lost it. Research studies confirmed that minoxidil applied directly to the scalp could stimulate hair growth. As a result of the studies, the FDA originally approved over-the-counter 2% minoxidil to treat hair loss in women. Since then a 5% solution has also become available when a stronger solution is need for a woman’s hair loss.

Clearly, minoxidil is not a miracle drug. While it can produce some new growth of fine hair in some not all women, it can’t restore the full density of the lost hair. It’s not a quick fix, either for hair loss in women . You won’t see results until you use the drug for at least two months. The effect often peaks at around four months, but it could take longer, so plan on a trial of six to 12 months. If minoxidil works for you, you’ll need to keep using it to maintain those results. If you stop, you’ll start to lose hair again.

Some women find that the minoxidil solution leaves a deposit that dries and irritates their scalp. This irritation, called contact dermatitis, is probably caused not by the minoxidil itself, but rather by the alcohol that is included to facilitate drying.

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Crash Diets Are Dangerous

Crash diets and fad diets promise quick weight loss, but most do not work and can be dangerous. If you lose 15 pounds or more very quickly, you may lose a significant amount of hair within a matter of months. Inadequate protein and nutrients is one of the potential reasons for hair loss in women. Stick to a healthy, balanced eating plan. Fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and complex carbs give your body the fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals you need to maintain a healthy body, including a full head of hair. Other dietary risk factors for hair loss? Excess vitamin A may set the stage for your luscious locks to fall out.

Seasonal Hair Fall Myth Or Reality

Many people tend to notice hair shedding in the late fall and winter. During this period, hair shedding in men and women tends to increase. According to medical research, our scalp responds to changes in daylight hours. The longer daylight hours in summers triggers the telogen phase and therefore hair shedding occurs in late autumn or winter. The process is completely normal and can be prevented by taking the vitamins essential for healthy hair growth.

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Main Causes Of Hair Loss

What IsHair Loss Or Hair Fall

Hair Loss Or Hair Fall Is The Most Common Problem In The Whole World. Every 2 Out Of 3 Persons Are Facing This Problem.

Hair Loss Mainly Affects On Scalp But Sometimes It Affects On Entire Body.

Men Facing This Problem More Than Compare To Women. Excessive Hair Loss Can Also Occur In Children.

The Normal Life Of Individual Hair Is 2 To 7 Years. There Is A Process Is Normally Going Through That Lost Hair Replaces With The New Hair.

But Sometimes New Hair Doesnt Replaces Lost Hair Due To Various Factors. Hair Loss Can Start Slowly Over The Years Or Happen Instantly.

If You Lose 50-100 Hairs Per Day Then You Should Not Worry Because Its A Normal Hair Loss Process.

But If You Lose More Than 125 Hairs Per Day Then You Should Worry & Consult With Your Dermatologist.

Hair Loss Problem Can Stay For Temporary Or Also For Permanent . There Are Various Factors Which Causes Hair Loss & Are Responsible For Hair fall.

Like:- Blood Circulation, Heredity Problem, Hormonal Changes, Improper Diet, Digestive Problems, Mental Imbalance, Stress Problem, Medical Issues, Ageing & Certain Kinds Of Diseases Can Also Responsible For Hair Loss.

In America About 80 Million Men & Women Are Suffering From Hereditary Hair Loss Problem.

Vitamins For Hair Growth

If youre hoping to grow back healthy locks after experiencing hair loss due to a certain deficiency, vitamins can help. Parks recommends Ducray Anacaps Dietary Supplements and Shah suggests iron, vitamin D and zinc if youre deficient in them.

At the same time, vitamins arent a miracle cure for hair loss. Nutritional supplements can be very beneficial if you are losing your hair due to a nutritional deficiency, Kingsley said. However, if your hair loss is unrelated to diet, nutritional supplements will not remedy it.

The bottom line? Vitamins won’t hurt, but don’t rely on them to treat all types of hair loss.

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What Is Hair Shedding

Hair-shedding is a normal part of a natural hair growth cycle. The growth cycle begins with the anagen phase which is the growing phase of the hair follicle. This stage lasts for about 3-5 years. Next comes the catagen phase which is the intermediate phase where the hair follicles structure starts collapsing. This phase lasts for between 1-2 weeks. The final phase is the telogen phase which is when your hair sheds or falls, to make room for new hair. This phase lasts for 3-4 months and only about 10% of our hair will be in the telogen phase at any given point time.

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What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

• What is the cause of my hair loss?
• How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
• What type of hair loss do I have?
• Will my hair loss be permanent?
• Whats the best treatment for me?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Hair loss may cause you distress whether it happens because of genetics, a disease, or even stress. Know that there are some treatments you can try, and expert dermatologists are there to help you. Your hair loss may be able to be reversed. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice something wrong because the sooner you start treatment, the better.

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Ringworm And Hair Loss

Ringworm is a fungal skin infection that causes patches of hair loss. The official medical name for ringworm on the scalp is tinea capitis. The infection starts out as a small pimple that grows larger. Affected areas are itchy, red, inflamed, scaly patches with temporary baldness. The skin may ooze. People may have one or more bald spots. Ringworm is more common in children, but adults can get it, too.

The fungus triggers hair loss by causing hair to become brittle and to break off. The skin often appears most red around the edge of the lesion, with a more normal appearing skin tone in the center. That is one of the reasons the condition is called ringworm. The condition is contagious with skin-to-skin contact. It is also transmissible by infected combs, hairbrushes, unwashed clothing, and surfaces in gyms, showers, and pool areas. Your doctor can treat ringworm with oral antifungal medication. Ringworm on the scalp is one potential cause of hair loss in women that is reversible.

Excessive Hair Shedding In Women

• Hair Loss

Many women ask themselves, What is the normal about of hair loss per day? Hair loss is an issue that many women face and deal with, and while excessive hair loss in women is not a widely-discussed topic, over thirty million women experience moderate to significant hair loss each year. But this begs the question, what causes excessive hair loss in women? In order to understand the complexities of hair loss in women, it is necessary to diagnose the type of hair loss, analyze possible causes for the hair loss, and then seek the correct treatment path to remediate the hair loss. Hair loss in women may not garner the same coverage as hair loss in men, but that does not make it less necessary to understand and treat accordingly.

Diagnosing the Type of Hair Loss

The first step to successfully treating excessive hair shedding in women is to reach the correct diagnosis of what type of hair loss is occurring. Some types of hair loss only affect women periodically, while others are chronic conditions that require more consistent attention to be addressed. For women, there are three main types of hair loss that occur, each with separate symptoms and causes that require different treatment plans. Below are the three most common types of hair loss that affect women.

Causes for Hair Loss

Positive Ways to Combat Hair Loss

Result-Driven Methods

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