Hair loss is generally thought of as a problem that men face, but thinning hair also affects women. In order to treat the condition, it's important to determine the cause of your thinning hair. The umbrella term for thinning hair or hair loss is alopecia, but several types of alopecia exist. In some cases, medication, diet and lifestyle changes may help spur new hair growth.
Permanent Hair Loss
Considered a permanent condition, androgenetic alopecia is commonly known as female-pattern baldness. In this condition, women experience thinning at the top of the head, on the sides or near the front. They rarely lose all of their hair. Along with the unwelcome development of hair loss, women may also experience coarser facial hair.
Temporary Hair Loss
Hair may thin or disappear in small, round patches near the top of the head or elsewhere on the body, a sign of the temporary hair loss known as alopecia areata. This type of hair loss is more common to women than to men. Although physicians classify alopecia areata as a temporary condition, it may recur. Another version of thinning hair, telogen effluvium, presents as hair coming out in pieces. Traction alopecia is the loss of strips of hair along the sides or at the part. Other types of temporary hair loss exist, but involve dramatic hair loss rather than thinning hair.
General Causes
Aging, vitamin deficiency, fungal infection and aggressive medications or treatments, including chemotherapy, may cause permanent or temporary hair thinning disorders, according to MayoClinic.com. Heredity is the biggest factor of female-pattern baldness, which accelerates during the aging process. Alopecia areata is sometimes triggered by illness or an environmental irritant. Traction alopecia comes from wearing braids, cornrows or pigtails that pull your hair too tightly. Telogen effluvium may arise after illness or trauma.
Female-Specific Causes
Some factors that result in thinning hair are specific to women. Many of the hormone changes linked to thinning hair result from pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and birth control pills. Women commonly experience hair thinning about three months after a major hormone shift and regrowth after another three months, notes MayoClinic.com. Many of the hairstyles and treatments linked to hair loss are most often utilized by women. Salon treatments like bleaching, straightening and waving hair all involve potentially hair-damaging chemicals.
Treatment and Lifestyle Changes
Some prescription medications may promote hair growth and thickening in both women and men, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Doctors generally prescribe minoxidil for female-pattern baldness. If hair thinning is a symptom of a medical condition, prescriptions for the illness may also improve your hair's appearance. UMMC additionally suggests supporting other hair regrowth methods with proper nutrition. Ask your doctor to evaluate your diet or conduct blood tests to determine any nutrient deficiencies. B vitamins, iron, lean proteins, antioxidant vitamins and fatty acids may be particularly helpful for hair health. A scalp massage using a few drops of sage, rosemary or peppermint essential oil in a base of 1 tbsp. olive oil may spur new growth by improving circulation. Multivitamins and ginkgo biloba have also been linked to thicker, healthier hair, according to UMMC.
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