What Are The Causes Of Thinning Hair In Young Women?

Hair loss can affect a woman physically and emotionally, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to Marie Claire magazine, women ages 25 to 35 are more prone to experience thinning hair. If a woman is experiencing thinning hair, a clinical examination as well as a potential blood test may help to determine the cause of thinning hair, which can then determine treatment.

Stress

Stress is a powerful emotion that elicits a response in one's body. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, stress can cause hair loss three to four months after you experience a major illness or undergo surgery. Because young women are frequently subject to the stresses and pressures of a career, school and/or a family, stress is a common cause of thinning hair. If everyday stress builds up, over time this can result in inflammation that slows or delays the normal production of the hair cycle, which results in thinning hair, according to womentowomen.com.

Hormonal Disorder

Those with hypothryoidism and hyperthyroidism can experience thinning hair as a result of an imbalance in thyroid production. According to Lynn Drake, M.D., a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital writing in Dermatology Times, thyroid disease is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women.
When the sex hormones androgens and estrogens are out of balance, hair loss also can occur, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. For young women in particular, a pregnancy may result in hair thinning or loss roughly three months after pregnancy due to changes in hormones.

Medical Conditions

A range of medical conditions are linked with hair loss, according to Lynn Drake, M.D., a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital writing in Dermatology Times. These include renal and liver disease, lupus, scleroderma and other diseases the affect the daily functioning of the body's systems. Infections, such as fungal infections, syphilis and leprosy also can cause hair loss.

Medications Taken

While medicines aim to treat illness in the body, taking them can be accompanied by unfortunate side effects, such as thinning hair. Young women may utilize retinoids, which can clear acne, or antidepressants--both of which have been linked with thinning hair. Other medications linked with thinning hair include beta blockers, anti-cholesterol medications and blood thinners, according to Lynn Drake, M.D., a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital writing in Dermatology Times.