We hear a lot nowadays about male pattern hair loss but female pattern baldness affects 1 out of every 4 women in america. Hair loss in women can be even more troubling than for a person. Hair loss is usually accepted as a normal part of the aging process in men, but this isn’t the case for ladies. Lack of a gorgeous head of hair could be particularly devastating to a woman’s self-esteem.
Hereditary thinning
Also referred to as alopecia, accounts for 95 percent of female baldness. While many women think that the use of hair dryers, hot curlers, or flat irons might be causing their hair loss, this is not really the case. Harsh hair remedies or rough handling can cause the hairs to break off near the scalp, but this is temporary and can’t result in long term hair loss.
If you’re experiencing thinning hair or excessive hair loss the first issue to look at is the possibility of a hormonal imbalance. Child birth might lead to sudden hair loss. Often around three months after giving birth women experience excessive hair loss. This is due to hormones and, even though it may be alarming if you’re not expecting it, it is nothing to worry about. In actuality, it’s only your own hair returning to normal. During pregnancy the normal portion of your hair growth cycle where elderly hair is drop to make way for new development is retarded by high hormone levels. After you have given birth and your hormones start the readjust, the excess hair is drop to make way for new growth.
Another hormonal factor which may lead to hair loss in women is a thyroid disorder. An over or under active thyroid gland may cause thinning hair. Out of balance estrogen is another offender. However, with these two conditions, when the hormonal imbalance is corrected, the hair loss should stop. If you suspect that a hormonal imbalance is causing your hair loss, speak with your physician.
Other factors affecting baldness are extreme weight loss or gain, illness, high fever, or medication use.
The greatest factor in female baldness, however, is menopause. Prior to menopause just about 13 percent of women experience thinning hair. After menopause that number jumps to 37%. The reasons are two fold. During menopause many women’s hormones are all over the place, and, as we’ve seen, hormonal imbalance may be a major element in female hair loss. Additionally, many women start taking supplemental hormones during or after menopause like Progesterone. Progesterone inhibits the growth of new hair follicles which makes the problem worse.
But why do some women experience thinning hair while others maintain their flowing locks in their 90’s? As in men, some women have a genetic predisposition. What is determined is the amount of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone, a male hormone present in tiny amounts in females also, into dihydrotestostrone or DHT, the greatest culprit in hair loss for both women and men.
The fantastic thing is that there is a lot you can do to stop and even reverse baldness by simply giving your body the ideal support.
Key ingredients
- Vitamin B6 is on peak of the list. Studies have shown that B6 promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. You want to make certain you’re getting enough.
- Biotin is, quite simply, food for your hair. It helps promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. A biotin deficiency, however, has been proven to cause baldness.
- Magnesium is absolutely critical for hair growth and studies reveal that most women are not getting enough in their diets.
- Horsetail promotes good blood flow to the scalp that stimulates hair growth. Did your mom ever tell you to brush your hair a hundred strokes before bed every night? The old wives’ tale has some truth to it. The action of brushing stimulates the scalp bringing blood into the hair follicles. Horsetail does the exact same thing.
- Para-aminobenzoic Acid or PABA is also important to hair growth and health. It’s even capable in some cases of returning grey hair to its original color!
Thinning hair can be quite stressing for women. Fortunately, unlike guys, we generally just experience a general thinning and do not find ourselves going bald in large and carefully placed spots –so take heart and do something about it. If you have ruled out hormonal imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, or hair loss as a result of sudden illness or weight fluctuation, odds are your thinning hair is hereditary. But that does not mean you must live with it. Find an excellent supplement that will nourish your hair from the inside out and fix the deficiencies which are resulting in female pattern hair loss. You can look forward to many more years of beautiful hair.
