One of the important things people notice about others when they meet them is the HAIR. Different hairstyles convey different aspects of your style and personality. As they age, hair becomes more and more important for women as compared to men. Since the beginning of the late 20th century, perception about old age changed. It became more and more important for older women to have their hair properly groomed. This helps them avoid negative perceptions regarding their age.
Women tend to lose hair as they age, especially when they are in menopause. Hair loss for women over 50 years old is a common problem. It can be really stressful and can negatively affect the self-esteem of the woman. But worry not there are many methods, strategies to treat hair loss in women.
In medical terminology, baldness is known as alopecia. Complete baldness is known as alopecia totalis. Continue in the article we will discuss the different causes of baldness, temporary and permanent baldness, and a few treatments to cure temporary baldness.
We generally consider hair loss is common in men but women experience it too. Less than 45% of women spend their complete life with a head full of hair. So, what causes hair loss in females. Female pattern hair loss also is known as FPHL, is the most common reason, and it increases with advancing age. This kind of hair loss may start as early as the 40s, 50s. It is hereditary and genes may be inherited from a father or mother or maybe both. Female hair loss can be a chronic and progressive condition as it affects their social life and also their self-esteem along with physiological distress. Early diagnosis is very critical.
Before taking a look at hair loss first understand how hair grows. The scalp contains more than 100 thousand hair. They grow from the root of the follicle. Blood vessels nourish the root and help the hair to grow. Damage to those blood vasculature can halt hair growth. Oil glands are also present which keeps the hair shiny and stops it from being dry. Damage to those glands can cause thin and dry hair which easily breaks while combing. On average 50 to 100 hair loss is normal. But if they start falling off in clumps during the shower or combing then that’s a hair loss problem. Or you may see areas of the scalp without hair or thinning of hair. All these conditions require medical attention.
Most common reasons for hair loss:
Thyroid disease
The thyroid is a gland present in the neck. It secretes the thyroid hormone. An imbalance in the thyroid hormone level can stimulate hair loss. Too much thyroid hormone(hyperthyroidism) or too much less thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) both cause hair fall. Luckily it’s very easy to diagnose and treatment is also easy. See this article on Hairguard.com.
PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PSOC) is a medical condition in which the body produces more male hormones (androgens). This triggers hair thinning. women suffering from this condition may grow facial and body hair, weight gain, acne, and menstrual irregularities. Hair thinning is the only outer sign that woman is suffering from this condition.
Alopecia Areata
It is an autoimmune condition. The body’s immune system destroys the hair follicles and causes hairless patchy scalp. Worry not, this is a self-limiting condition. Hairs usually grow back within 6 to 12 months. Complete baldness is known as Alopecia Totalis. This condition is mostly treated with steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosuppressive medications.
Some ringworms fungal infections can also cause hair loss
They create patches of hair loss. The medical terminology for this is Tinea Capitis. This kind of infection starts as a small pimple and later grows into a larger patch, which is itchy, inflamed, and temporary bald. Ringworms are more common in children but adults can get it too. The fungus causes hair loss by making hair more brittle and thus it breaks off. This cause is very easy to reverse. Your doctor may suggest you take oral anti-fungal or topical use of anti-fungal creams.
Childbirth can also trigger hair loss
During pregnancy, women experience fuller hair and are very happy with it but get very disappointed when they experience hair loss after giving birth. Losing hair after pregnancy is not generally known as hair loss, instead, it is very normal. This hair fall and pregnancy both are interlinked due to hormone imbalance. During pregnancy estrogen level is high thus hair seems fuller. But soon after delivery estrogen level decreases and hair starts to fall off. Few women may notice that they lose a lot of hair in a very short span of time after delivery. This is a self-limiting condition. Hair starts to grow back to normal and fuller within 1 to 2 years. No medication is required for the treatment.
Birth control Pills
They are a form of contraceptive pills that suppresses ovulation or makes the fertilized eg difficult to implant in the uterus by causing down and up-regulation of different hormones. Starting and stopping these pills can cause thinning of hair and can also cause hair to fall. You are more likely to experience even more hair fall if you have a family history of hair loss problems. Blood thinners and blood pressure medications can also cause hair thinning and hair loss. So can the drugs use to treat depression, arthritis, and heart diseases?
Crash diet
Crash and fad diets provide a quick way to lose weight but if you lose weight too quickly there is a great chance you may lose hair as well. The reason for this kind of hair loss would be an inadequate amount of protein intake during the crash diet. So just stick to a healthy diet, take all the nutrients with a balanced diet. Wanna lose weight try to exercise and eat fewer carbs with an increase in protein intake. Excess of vitamin A may set the stage for your luscious lock to fall out.
Hairstyling
Tight ponytails, hats, scarves, bandannas, and cornrows all can pull hair and can cause traction alopecia. The constant tension irritates the scalp which may set in hair loss. If traction alopecia was to blame, your hair should grow back. Prolonged use of tight hairstyles can lead to permanent hair loss.
Treatment for cancer using radiation and chemotherapy can cause hair loss.
Both therapies are effective against cancer cells. But this therapy acts as a double-edged sword and in return harms the body in a few different ways. One of which is hair loss by damaging the hair follicles. People undergoing therapy may experience dramatic hair loss and they may even wake up with clumps of hair on the pillow. Rapid hair loss due to therapy may start with 2 weeks of therapy. During this period scalp may be more sensitive and the person may experience difficulty while washing, brush and combing hair. The good news is once the therapy is over, hair tends to grow back.
Physical and emotional stress
Extreme physical and emotional stress may trigger sudden hair loss in women. This kind of hair loss is known as Telogen Effluvium. Circumstances which can cause this type of hair loss include serious illness, surgery, blood loss, severe emotional upset, and weight loss. Sometimes medical drugs can also induce the reaction and cause hair loss. Telogen Effluvium can last for 6 to 8 months before getting resolved.
What kind of treatment to use against hair loss?
There are different ranges of treatments for hair loss. One of the most common ones is the use of Minoxidil (Rogaine). It is a topical medication which is used for both male and female hair loss. Male usually use 5% minoxidil and females use 2% minoxidil. If females use 5% minoxidil they may develop hirsutism (male facial expressions and facial hair growth). For alopecia treatment steroids are used which can suppress the immune system that damages the hair follicles. Once follicles recover hair can grow back normally.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that will help regrow hair and reverse hair fall in women. The lasers are available for doctor’s offices and also for home use. Laser therapy must be done for 2 to 4 months before results are visible. Laser therapy is an alternative to medication and hair transplant surgery. The devices cleared by the FDA as safe for the treatment of hair thinning and fall.
Another treatment includes a hair transplant. It is a surgical procedure in which the doctor removes hair from part of the scalp and transfer it to the part where the hair is thinning. In the case of females, it may be difficult to find the donor site due to the overall thinning of the hair in the head. Patients may need multiple sessions to achieve desired results.
Finally, use shampoos, conditioners, and serums that contain ingredients that have the ability to block Dihydrotestosterone (abbreviated as DHT) from attacking hair follicles. Scientists have discovered that the presence of DHT is the main factor causing female pattern hair loss. DHT causes hair follicles to “miniaturize” which, over time, makes them produce thinner and weaker hairs. The good news is that there are a number of products women can apply topically on their scalp that help stops DHT from harming the hair follicles, preventing the profession of female pattern hair loss, and allowing them to grow thicker, stronger, and healthier hair.
Our favorite product to block DHT and help reverse female pattern hair loss? The Maximum Hair Thickening Serum from Hair Restoration Laboratories. The Maximum Hair Thickening Serum is a powerful leave-in treatment, packed with clinically-studied ingredients to immediately provide maximum thickness to existing hair, minimize hair loss and maintain the scalp and hair follicles in optimum condition to promote the growth of thicker and stronger hair and reduce hair loss.
The Serum contains what Hair Restoration Laboratories calls DHT Halting Technology® with ingredients like green tea extract, saw palmetto extract, azelaic acid, pumpkin seed oil, black cumin seed oil, caffeine, biotin, cayenne fruit extract, and ginseng that work synergistically to stop hair loss and help regrow and thicken hair.
The Serum also contains vital hair strengthening, building, and anchoring ingredients, such as keratin, hydrolyzed collagen, and caprylic triglyceride to dramatically maximize the thick appearance of your hair from the very first application. Ingredients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, and jojoba seed oil provide intense nourishment to your hair, noticeably improving the strength, natural shine, and vibrancy.
In the end, always take care of yourself and your hair as well. If you find any sign of hair loss, immediately give a visit to your doctor.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at BlueFashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2013. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
