Healthy, long, shiny and beautiful hair is the dream of any woman and if any woman has any of these then her hair become her asset and glory. Most of the times, it is genetic to have beautiful and healthy hair however with proper nutrition and exercise a woman can always make her dream of having beautiful hair true. But there are some causes of hair loss in women, that we must be aware of.
Causes of Hair Loss in Women
Hair loss or hair fall is one of the major problems associated with hair and the biggest concern of every woman who is suffering from it. 50-100 hair falls on a daily basis and this is considered to be normal and cannot be termed as new hair grow in place of old hair. The hair grows about a half inch every month and almost ninety percent of hair are growing at any time while the remaining ten percent are in dormant phase. This dormant hair falls out every two to three months and new hair starts growing in their place.
This is the process through which the cycle of hair growth and fall continues. If hair is falling in this process then it cannot be considered as hair loss. However if the hair fall is extreme and is beyond this limit, then its is a matter of concern. It is then called as hair fall problem!
So what are the possible causes of hair loss in women? Apart from heredity, there can be many reasons out of which 15 major causes of hair loss are listed below.
1. Heredity Can be a Reason for Hair Loss
The hair loss which occurs in females is termed as female pattern hair loss and is termed as androgenetic or androgenic alopecia. It is basically a heredity problem. If a woman from your family started losing hair at a particular age then it is likely that you may also suffer or prone to it.
Remedy: Hair weaving and hair bonding can be the possible treatment, but it is too costly and should be done only after proper consultations with reputed dermatologists.
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2. Hair Fall Due to Hormonal Imbalances
The most common causes of hair loss in women are hormone imbalance which may result in permanent hair loss. It can also cause of hair loss in women due to reasons like pregnancy, childbirth, intake of birth control pills, menopause or hysterectomy.
Remedy: As it is temporary after some time your body will start growing new hair.
3. Hypothyroidism
The under activeness of thyroid gland is termed as hypothyroidism in medical terms. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces the hormones that are essential for hair growth, development and metabolism. If it produces fewer hormones then it may result in hair loss.
Remedy: Consult your doctor and get a test done about it. You can take care of this problem by synthetic thyroid medication. Your hair loss will stop once the thyroid levels will return to normal.
4. Illness or Surgery
The body may temporarily stop tasks like hair production which are quite non-essential if you are sick and recovering or if you have undergone any surgery. Specific conditions like alopecia, (which has no foolproof remedy and causes permanent or rapid hair loss), thyroid disorder, iron deficiency or severe infection can also cause hair loss.
Remedy: Be patient through this period and try to relax instead of worrying. Once the body will start recovering the hair fall will also decrease. Take your medicines properly in order to have a good recovery. Eat a balanced diet.
5. Nutritional Deficiency
Dieting and eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia can result in temporary hair loss. Deficiency of vitamins, proteins, and minerals in the body can lead to hair loss. If your protein intake is low your body may start losing hair in order to adjust the need of protein in the body. This may happen after two to three months if there is a deficiency of protein in the body.
Remedy: Vegetables and fruits are the good sources of essential vitamins. Eat two different and seasonal varieties of fruits daily. Fish, meat, and eggs are good sources of protein. Cottage cheese, sprouts etc. are good options of protein for vegans.
6. Emotional Stress
One of the main causes of hair loss in women can be stress. It is more likely that one may suffer more hair loss due to emotional stress than physical stress. A traumatic injury, a car accident, divorce, the death of your loved ones may cause extreme emotional or physical stress and a temporary hair loss condition can be observed.
Remedy: Since this can be a temporary phase and it largely depends upon your mental and emotional state, you need to treat yourself for recovery from stress first. In due course of time you will see remarkable recovery in hair fall problem.
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7. Excess Vitamin A
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the daily value of vitamin AÂ intake is 5000 International Units (IU) in adults and in kids above the age of four years it should be from 2500 to 10,000 IU. If it is consumed in the excess amount it can cause hair loss.
Remedy: As obvious, once you lessen the intake of vitamin A in your diet you may see the good results.
8. Deficiency of Vitamin B
The deficiency of vitamin B in the body may lead to hair fall. It is difficult to identify this deficiency in the body, but if you are suffering from hair loss it could one of the possible reasons.
Remedy: Simple changes in your dietary supplements can help resolve this problem. Avocado and nuts are good sources of vitamin B. A nutritious diet including fruits and vegetables is a good remedy in order to overcome this deficiency. Natural vitamin B can be found in starchy vegetables, meat, fish, and non-citrus fruits.
9. Anemia
1 in every 10 women aged between 20-49 years suffers from anemia. Anemia is nothing but the deficiency of iron in the body. This could also lead to hair loss and is very easily curable.
Remedy:Â Intake of iron or iron supplement may help to combat such type of hair loss; however you need to be quite sure about being anemic. A simple blood test recommended by your doctor can help you in diagnosing the disease. Other symptoms of anemia include dizziness, pale skin, cold feet and hands.
10. Dramatic Weight Loss
Losing weight suddenly can be a physical trauma for the body and hence may result in weight loss. You can stop this even if the weight loss is good for you. During weight loss, it might be possible that you are stressing your body and your intake of nutrients is not right and may cause deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in your body.
Remedy: This shock of sudden weight loss can last in the body for around six months and your hair will start growing again after that. If you’re dieting or trying to lose weight make sure to take a required intake of vitamins and proteins in order to avoid hair loss.
11. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is an imbalance in female sex hormones. An excess production of androgens can cause an ovarian cyst, high risk of diabetes, infertility, weight gain, changes in menstrual period and hair fall. Due to male dominant hormones in the woman in PCOS, women may also have more hair on the face and other parts of the body like breast, back etc. Having more hair on rest of the body and increase in hair fall from head can be embarrassing.
Remedy: If you face any of the above symptoms consult your doctor and get it diagnosed. Its effects can be reversed by treating it. Treatment may include medication, exercise and diet.
12. Harsh Hairstyle or Over Styling
Harsh hairstyles or vigorous styling on a continuous basis can cause hair to fall out due to excessive stress. Styles like tight braids, hair weaves, corn rows, treatments like hair straightening, hot oil treatments, chemical or high heat can affects the roots of the hair and damage them causing hair loss.
Remedy: The best remedy to this problem is to avoid such things or minimize the use different and unhealthy treatments to hair. Use of conditioner after every wash, allow your hair to dry naturally, less use of curling irons is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.
13. Medication and Vitamins
Cancer Chemotherapy is a well-known reason for hair fall. During this therapy the hair follicles are attacked by the treating rays in order to kill the fast growing cells of cancer in the body. The medications taken for high blood pressure and gout (a painful joint condition) may also cause hair loss in women.
Remedy: After the completion of chemotherapy and once the patient is recovered the new hair will grow automatically. Just need to have proper care, support and patience while taking this treatment.
14. Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease which causes hair loss in women. In this situation, the hair does not grow back leaving the patch as bald.
Remedy: If the hair loss is mild a new hairstyle can give you some relief. If you have long hair, you can cut them short and may be able to hide the patch better.
These are few of the reasons behind hair loss in women. We can conclude that with proper care and maintenance we can noticeably reduce the fall of hair. There are certain conditions or situations where controlling hair fall seems difficult. In such situation it is important to be patient and deal with the problem with calmness.
Do you have similar experiences to share with us? Why not share with us in the comments section? Also please share this article with your friends and family.
Have a long and strong hair always, cheers!
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