No woman wants to see loose hairs in the shower drain or on her hairbrush. A certain amount of hair loss is common and occurs as each hair completes its growth cycle. Excessive hair loss that eventually causes noticeable thinning is not uncommon among women, although it may signal an underlying condition that should be treated.
Hair Growth Cycle
The complete growth cycle for a single hair may last as long as six years, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). At any given time, most hair is in the growth, or anagen, phase, which lasts from two to six years. The hair then enters a resting phase lasting two to three months. Ninety percent of hair is in the growth phase while 10 percent is in the resting phase. While the hair is resting, the follicle begins to disintegrate and the hair falls out. A new hair begins growing in the same shaft and the process repeats.
Normal Hair Loss
New hair cannot grow until the old hair is pushed out of the shaft, so small amounts of hair loss are not only normal but also necessary for healthy hair. Losing up to 100 hairs a day is normal, according to the AAD. Hair typically grows at a rate of 1/2 inch each month, and the growth rate slows with aging.
Hair Loss in Women
Excessive hair loss is generally associated with men, but it also occurs in women. The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) estimates 40 percent of women have hair loss. The loss may be temporary or permanent. If untreated, temporary hair loss may become permanent.
Causes
Chemical hair treatments, such as coloring or permanent waves, can damage hair and lead to hair loss. But hair loss may also occur as a result of natural fluctuations in hormone levels, certain medications or extreme stress or trauma, according to the AHLA. The most common cause of female hair loss is hormonal imbalance. Drops in female hormone levels, such as during menopause, or an increase in male hormones from certain types of contraceptives, can lead to excess hair loss. Stressful events, for example, serious illness, surgery or extreme emotional stress, can cause hair loss. The increased hormone levels during pregnancy prevent hair from falling out, but hair may shed in handfuls when hormone levels return to normal after childbirth.
Treatment
Minoxidil is the only treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for female hair loss caused by hormonal imbalance. Minoxidil helps prevent further hair loss and stimulates new hair growth, but the AHLA warns hair loss will recur when minoxidil treatment ends. Hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives that block ovarian production of testosterone may also be used. For women with stress-related hair loss, hair usually regrows approximately six months after the stressful event resolves.
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