Thinning hair in women is much more than a cosmetic flaw. This condition can signal hormonal imbalances or even more serious medical conditions that can have life-threatening consequences. Once the cause of thinning hair is determined, medication and other treatments can be used to restore hair to its normal thickness and improve patient confidence.
Thyroid Disorders
One of the major symptoms of some thyroid disorders is thinning hair. The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck and is responsible for producing and storing thyroid hormone. This hormone is responsible for stimulating enzymes that combine glucose with oxygen, increasing the body's metabolic rate and the amount of body heat that is produced. Thyroid hormone also regulates tissue growth and development, maintains blood pressure and regulates the development of the productive system. When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, tissue regulation activities are interrupted and a woman's hair may become thinner.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance may be responsible for thinning hair in women. Both men and women have male hormones known as androgens and female hormones known as estrogens. When the amount of male hormones in a woman's body gets out of balance, it can cause the hair to become thinner. Thinning hair is often the result of a testosterone imbalance. Testosterone is an androgen that is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands of women. The hormonal changes of menopause can also result in the thinning of hair in women. This is because the production of estrogen decreases during menopause.
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to have difficulty differentiating between healthy cells and foreign bodies that need to be destroyed. As a result, the immune system aggressively attacks healthy cells that are needed for tissue development and growth. The cells that contribute to the growth of new hair can be destroyed, leading to thinning hair. People with autoimmune diseases may also experience hair loss or a change in the texture of their hair. If a sudden change in hair texture or thickness occurs, consult a physician to determine if it is caused by an autoimmune disease.
Drugs
Several types of drugs can cause hair to become thin, but hair should return to its normal thickness once a course of treatment with one of these drugs is completed. Medicines that are known to cause the thinning of hair in women include gout medications, chemotherapy drugs, hormonal birth control pills, blood thinners and antidepressants. If vitamin A is taken in large doses, it can also cause hair thinning or hair loss. If hair does not return to normal several weeks after stopping one of these drugs, consult a doctor to determine if there are other causes.
Stress
Stress plays an important role in the development and growth of tissue in the human body. When someone is under a lot of physical or emotional stress, hair growth may stop, which leads to thinning of the hair. The American Academy of Family Physicians indicates that women may notice a thinning of hair or loss of hair 3 to 4 months after a major illness or surgical procedure. This is related to the high amount of stress caused by coping with an illness or going through a major surgery. Once the stress has been resolved, the hair will return to its normal thickness.
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