Many women take great pride in the beauty of their hair. Thinning hair can be a traumatic psychological blow to a woman's self-esteem. There are many different types of hair loss. Identify the signs of thinning hair early, so that you can seek treatment and naturally regain your healthy head of hair.
Female Pattern Baldness
Androgenetic alopecia works much the same way as male pattern baldness. Signs of female pattern baldness are balding in the front, sides and crown. Female pattern baldness can indicate a hormonal imbalance, caused by too much DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. DHT overstimulates hair follicles, causing them to cease producing healthy hair. Women with DHT problems may also notice other signs, including dark hairs in unwanted places. A natural approach is to take saw palmetto, which can decrease the production of DHT. If you experience these signs of hair loss, consult your health-care provider for a hormone test to verify that DHT is the culprit.
Cicatricial Alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia is caused by extreme inflammation of hair follicles. The most common sign of cicatricial alopecia is patchy balding spots, often accompanied by discomfort, itchiness, redness and/or pain. Cicatricial alopecia can be caused by scarring to the scalp. Treatment options are few, and this form of hair loss can completely shut down the hair follicle, causing permanent damage. Cicatricial alopecia can also be caused by a severe infection.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is caused by constant strain on hair follicles. Restrictive hairstyles can cause permanent hair loss over long periods of time. The sign of this form of hair loss is thinning or balding patterns indicative of the prolonged strain. Examples are balding patterns created by wearing hair in pigtails, braids, cornrows, or tight rollers. If caught early, this form of hair loss may be reversed or improved by reducing the strain on the affected hair follicles.
Temporary Hair Loss
One form of temporary hair loss is alopecia aerata. Warning signs are small, round patches of hair loss, accompanied by soreness or itching. Alopecia aerata can indicate an autoimmune disorder. It may be caused by extreme stress, crash dieting, or nutrient deficiency.
Telogen effluvium is temporary hair loss that happens suddenly. The first signs involve large handfuls of hair falling out all at once while washing, brushing or combing out their hair. Mild thinning or patchy bald spots can indicate telogen effluvium. Consult your health-care provider if this temporary hair loss persists.
Causes & Treatments
Hair loss can be caused by stress, hormonal imbalance, genetics, immune disorder, thyroid disease, nutrient deficiency, cosmetics irritation or allergies, radiation and chemotherapy, blood loss, drugs, surgery and scarring. Though many doctors treat hair loss as an inevitable part of aging for men and women, some natural treatments help support hair growth. Supplement your diet with high-quality sources of protein, and avoid refined sugars. Take a multivitamin and mineral to get the essentials for healthy hair growth. Omega 3 from fish oil or flax seed oil, kelp, ginko biloba and saw palmetto all support healthy hair. Other treatments such as scalp massage, acupuncture and therapy for emotional distress can improve the health of your hair. Consult a physician at the first sign of hair loss.
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