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Why Women Lose Hair

Many women think thinning hair is abnormal or unnatural – a man's problem. Some believe that if their hair is thinning, then they must be sick, or that it's stress related. Among women younger than 50 who experience hair thinning and balding, most assume that it is caused by something external, while women over 50 normally attribute it to just another part of aging.

Temporary conditions such as pregnancy, medication, diet, or stress can cause hair thinning. But 70% of women who experience the condition can attribute it to androgenetic alopecia. Your doctor (dermatologist, general practitioner, gynecologist) can help you figure out the cause for your hair thinning.

Female Hair Thinning

Thinning is commonly referred to as hereditary hair thinning or androgenetic alopecia. Both women and men experience androgenetic alopecia: approximately 50 million men have hereditary hair thinning compared to nearly 33 million women. However, it affects the genders differently. While men experience "pattern baldness"–- vertex balding and/or receding frontal hairline – women generally experience Female Pattern Baldness, diffused thinning over the top of the head or crown, while most often maintaining a frontal hairline.

Signs and Symptoms
    - General thinning of hair all over the head
    - Moderate loss of hair on the crown or at hairline

Surprisingly, hair loss is not something that happens to women only after menopause. Female pattern baldness usually begins about age 30,even as early as in 20s, becomes noticeable around age 40, and may be even more noticeable after menopause. By the age of 50, 50% of women will experience some degree of hair thinning. Female hair loss is usually an overall thinning -- two hairs where five used to be--rather than a bald area on top of the head, though women may have a receding hairline, too. It's thought that about 33 million American and Canadian women have such hair loss. As in males, hair follicles simply shut down, with hormones playing some role in the process.

The Thinning Process

As you age, a combination of heredity, the effects of hormones and age causes certain hair follicles to get smaller and smaller. This prevents the hair from fulfilling its regular growth process. Hair follicles gradually become smaller and the period of time in which the hair grows is reduced. And hair that can only grow for a short time is shorter, thinner, even colorless.

In addition to androgenetic alopecia, there are a couple of other common hair loss disorders.

Hormonal Change

Hormonal changes are a common cause of female hair loss. After pregnancy or discontinuation of birth control pills, many women experience temporary hair thinning.

While a woman is pregnant, and hormonal changes are occurring, more hair follicles enter the growth phase than normal. About two to three months after childbirth, the normal hair cycle returns and many hairs re-enter the resting phase, which causes excessive shedding to occur.
When this happens, a woman's hair will start to shed more than usual. As a result, most women will usually notice large amounts of hair in their combs or bathtubs.

This is a temporary condition, and as hormone levels in the body return to pre-pregnancy levels after about six months, the excessive shedding normally ends. If the condition does not change after six months, a woman may be experiencing hereditary hair thinning which was masked by childbirth. A dermatologist can help make a proper diagnosis.

Alopecia areata often happens abruptly. It is an immune system disorder, which causes hair follicles to stop producing hair. Typically, it can be recognized by patchy hair loss with some areas of thinning or complete baldness.

Telogen effluvium begins abruptly and is also a temporary condition. It is normally brought on by a "shock to the system" such as stress or illness, which results in excessive hair shedding.

If the onset of your hair thinning seems sudden, and/or if you have patches of hair loss, consult with your doctor to learn about appropriate treatment options.

Traumatic alopecia may be due to the use of hair reshaping products (relaxers, straighteners, hot combs) or hair braiding methods. Specific types of traumatic alopecia are:

    - traction alopecia, the persistent physical stress involved with tight rollers and tight braiding. Appears as severe thinning above ears with marked recession of hairline, and can occur as thinning at the forehead as well. Prolonged practice of these styling methods can result in irreversible hair loss.
    - chemical alopecia, damage of the scalp and hair shaft caused by commercial relaxer products. Looks similar to hereditary hair thinning, but also includes scarring of the scalp.
    - follicular degeneration syndrome, the excessive use of pomades with a hot comb or iron. Fairly distinct appearance with scarring that begins in the crown and spreads symmetrically.

If you believe you are experiencing one of the above, it's recommended that you stop styling practices that may be the cause of your hair thinning and talk to your stylist or dermatologist.

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