What Are The Causes Of Hair Loss In Healthy Women?

Hair loss in women is never pleasant. You may notice that your hair is thinner, your hairbrush is full of hair or you may see hair falling out during the day. Recent illness, medication use, infections or diseases, like diabetes or lupus, are some medical causes of hair loss, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Not all hair loss is caused by a serious condition; rather, there are some common causes of hair loss in healthy women.

Recent Pregnancy

If you have recently been pregnant, you may notice hair loss several months after giving birth, notes the American Pregnancy Association. During pregnancy, more hair stays in the resting phase; your hair may be thicker while you are pregnant. Generally, you will lose hair about three months after giving birth and the loss is due to the normalization of your hormones. This type of hair loss will reverse itself and your hair should return to normal by one year.

Nutrition

The quality of your diet can affect the hair loss, according to the National Institutes of Health. Diets low in protein or poor nutrition may cause hair loss. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends an adult woman eating a 2,000 calorie diet consume 6 oz. of lean proteins, 3 to 4 servings of vegetables, four to five 1/2 cup servings of fruit, 2 to 3 cups of low-fat dairy and 7 to 8 servings of whole grains each day. Analyze your diet to ensure you are getting adequate nutrition. Consider taking a high-quality multivitamin to supplement your diet, particularly if you have been cutting calories in an attempt to lose weight.

Chemical Treatments

Perming, coloring and bleaching your hair can damage your hair, notes MayoClinic.com. When you use harsh chemicals, dyes and heat products, such as blow dryers and flat irons, the resulting damage may cause hair loss. Even hairstyling products and brushing your hair too frequently can affect your hair. Ask your stylist to use gentler products and let more time elapse between appointments. Touch up your roots instead of coloring all your hair and deep condition your hair once a week. Blow dry your hair on a cooler setting and let your hair dry naturally when possible.

Aging

Getting older is a cause of hair loss in women, according to the National Institutes of Health. As you get older, your hair grows more slowly and the strands become narrower. Even if you had thick hair as a young woman, as you age, your hair naturally thins. Occasionally a healthy woman develops female-pattern baldness as she ages. In this case, your hair begins to thin and is not replaced by new hairs.