Hair loss among men is common, but 40 percent of hair loss sufferers in the United States are women. According to the American Hair Loss Association, within the medical community, men's concerns about hair loss often take priority while women's concerns are left unaddressed. For women, hair loss can take a devastating toll on their emotional health and self-image. Heredity, stress, hair care and nutrition are all contributing factors for female hair loss.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Adrogenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness, occurs when the hair growth cycle becomes shorter, new growth is brittle, and the hairs easily falls out. Androgenetic alopecia is often hereditary, so your chances of hair loss are higher if there is a family history. Heredity also determines when you start losing your hair, how quickly the condition will progress, and the pattern and extent of the hair loss.
Anagen Effluvium
This type of hair loss occurs when the hair follicle's metabolic or mitotic activity is impaired. Anagen effluvium is commonly seen in chemotherapy patients. Chemotherapy targets other rapidly dividing cells in addition to cancer cells. Hair follicles in the growing phase are affected and hair loss occurs. Hair often grows back three to six months after chemotherapy is ended, although sometimes it can grow back during treatment.
Telogen Effluvium
Teflogen effluvium occurs when you experience a physical or emotional shock to your system that disrupts your normal hair cycle, such as severe emotional stress, extreme dieting, metabolic disturbance, poor nutrition or surgery. Hair loss can occur six weeks to three months after the occurrence of a stressful event, and a person can lose as much as a handful of hair at a time. The hair often grows back, but the process can take months.
Traction Alopecia
This type of hair loss is caused by frequently wearing hairstyles that tightly pull the hair away from the scalp, like ponytails or cornrows. Hair grows back if the pulling stops before any scarring occurs; however, the hair loss can be permanent if the pulling continues.
Other Causes
Certain medications, malnutrition and medical treatments such as radiation therapy can cause hair loss. Hormonal changes such as menopause, childbirth, pregnancy, the discontinued use of birth control pills or thyroid issues can cause hair loss. Chemical treatments, excessive brushing and over-styling the hair can also cause breakage.
Treatment
Treatment options for female hair loss include minoxidil, or Rogaine, which is an over-the-counter foam or liquid you massage into your scalp; corticosteroids taken orally or injected into your scalp; or anthralin, an ointment applied to the scalp and washed off daily. Surgical options include hair transplants and scalp reduction. Hair transplants involve taking tiny patches of hair-covered skin from the back or side of your scalp and implanting them into the bald areas. Scalp reduction involves removing hairless areas of scalp and closing the space with hair-covered scalp.
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