Hair loss is a common problem for women, and most will experience some form of it during their life. Normal daily hair loss ranges from 50 to 100 hairs a day. Losing hair in excess of these daily norms may indicate a hair loss problem. Identify the cause and type of hair loss you are experiencing to properly target natural treatments. Though hair loss has a genetic component, you do not have to let your genes get the best of your healthy head of hair. By targeting hair loss with hormonal balance, proper diet, supplementation, and gentle hair care, most women can significantly improve their hair health.
Causes of Hair Loss in Women
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. Whatever the cause, it is important to identify the type of hair loss to properly target attempts to remedy the situation. Temporary hair loss frequently occurs due to stress or natural hair growth cycles. Alopecia aerata and telogen effluvium are two forms of temporary hair loss that can be reversed. Alopecia aerata is characterized by small, round patches of hair loss, accompanied by soreness or itching. Telgen effluvium is hair loss that occurs suddenly, involving large handfuls of hair loss during washing or brushing. Female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is caused by hormonal imbalance, specifically too much of the androgen hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Managing DHT
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen hormone produced from testosterone. DHT is directly implicated in female pattern baldness because it overstimulates hair receptors in hair follicles causing them to shut down. The cause of hormonal imbalance could be birth control pills or other estrogen based drugs, pregnancy, menopause or endocrine disease. Natural substances that block DHT production include saw palmetto, nettle root, pygeum, pumpkin seed oil and fo-ti. Other herbs that may help with hormonal balance include dong quai, ashwaganda, damiana, black cohosh and sage. Many women prefer natural methods to pharmaceutical options for blocking DHT, such as Propecia. Consult with your physician to make an informed choice. DHT-blocking drugs often cause many unwanted side effects and must be taken for long periods of time to sustain results.
Dietary Factors and Deficiency
If your diet is typically high in saturated fat, animal protein, salt and sugar, this can lead to hair loss. Diets low in vitamins and vital nutrients further contribute to hair loss. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, certain amino acids and B vitamins can lead to hair loss. You may be able to significantly improve your hair loss by changing your dietary habits. Make sure to get adequate quality sources of protein, for example lean meats. Every cell in the body needs protein, especially the scalp and hair follicles. A well-balanced diet with ample fruits, vegetables, and iron-rich foods should provide all the nutrients you need for a healthy head of hair. Iron-rich foods include lean red meats, clams, cream of wheat, dried fruit, soybeans and broccoli.
Supplementation for Hair Loss
Many dietary supplements claim to help ward off hair loss. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement will ensure that you are getting optimal nutrition. Consider a B-complex to provide optimal B vitamins that you may not be getting enough of in your daily diet. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are important to hair and scalp health. Take fish or flax seed oil daily for healthy hair growth and shine. Other supplements for hair health include silica, vitamin C and A (beta-carotene), biotin, folic acid and ginko biloba, which increases circulation to the scalp. Hair, skin and nail vitamin products combine several of these supplements together to promote healthy hair growth. Shen Min makes a popular line of these products, offering supplements made especially for women, as well as a DHT-blocking product for extreme hair loss.
Hair Care
Mothernature.com says to treat your hair gently. Avoid vigorous towel drying and opt for air drying. Comb, brush and style your hair when it is dry to avoid excess breakage. Never tease or back-comb because this breaks hair, which can encourage hair loss or make it look much worse than it is. It also recommends switching shampoos with the season, to decrease shedding. If you choose to color or perm your hair, use care and follow the instructions to avoid damaging your hair. Avoid chemical products, such as shampoos and treatments with lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA and alcohol. Instead, choose products based on castille, decyl polyglucose, flax seed or guar gum. Topical treatments such as jojoba, henna, silica, and biotin can help improve hair health. Combine 1/2 tsp. rosemary essential oil and 1/2 tsp. jojoba oil, blending until smooth. Apply this home remedy, leave it in for a few hours, then rinse it off. Another topical remedy from HomeMadeMedicines.com combines 1 cup aloe vera gel, 4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. nettle root, 1/2 tsp. vitamin E oil, and 1/2 tsp. rosemary oil, to be applied topically once a day.
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