What do you know about hair loss? A common occurrence, the problem may be more serious than imagined, and must be treated accordingly.
Despite affecting men frequently, hair loss can also become a problem for women. The causes are diverse and can vary between lifestyle habits, hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases, stress or even the seasons. The problem may present itself as thinning or just a reduction in volume over the years. Therefore, female hair loss needs to be diagnosed and treated in the best way possible.
The numbers can even be shocking. Often, around 40% of women suffer from hair loss after menopause, and 70% of the female population over 70 years of age experiences baldness. As well as the normal number of hairs lost throughout the day, around 100, reality only proves how much more common the problem can be than imagined.
Each case is extremely specific and requires its own treatment to obtain satisfactory results. Dealing with the problem using the same containment recipe over and over again may be ineffective. In this sense, so that female hair loss stops being a nuisance or simply has its effects slowed down, it is important to understand what the cause of the situation is.
Check out 10 possible causes of hair loss and the most effective treatments in recent times below.
Main causes of female hair loss
Firstly, it is essential to understand that each woman has a predisposition and can be affected differently by the condition. Oftentimes, hair loss may not be permanent. This is the case of the fall caused by situations such as the change of seasons, such as winter and autumn, where the cold prevents the constant flow of blood and nutrients to the root. This way, the hairs lose part of their strength, increasing the risk of the problem.
However, if this is not the reality of female hair loss, there are other options to be explored. It is important to remember the fact that women go through several mutations in hormonal levels throughout their lives, which makes them more vulnerable to certain agents that influence hair loss. In this case, it can be diagnosed as the result of situations where hormonal changes are radical, such as pregnancy and menopause.
1 – Stress
Stress can do much more than change your mood and the course of your days. In relation to hair, stressful situations, both physical and mental, can alter the hair cycle, which causes hair loss. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the percentage of female baldness is rising precisely due to constant exposure to stressful moments, something around 10%.
2 – Pregnancy
One of the biggest hormonal changes during a woman’s life occurs during pregnancy. Likewise, hormones are associated with the stress of childbirth, which can affect the integrity of the hair. Regarding the period, hair loss usually occurs for up to 2 months, 3 months after giving birth. Another possible but less common situation is hair loss during pregnancy, caused by increased levels of progesterone, a hormone that dries out hair. Subsequently, the strands may become weak and brittle.
Just like pregnancy, breastfeeding can also influence the loss of more hair. This occurs because the production of micronutrients for breast milk is not enough for milk and hair at the same time. So, in exchange for milk rich in nutrients, your hair may end up less healthy than normal.
3 – Polycystic ovary
The relationship between polycystic ovary and hair loss occurs in a chain. Because the production of the male hormone is produced on a large scale, causing the formation of cysts in the ovaries, high levels of testosterone also cause acne, abnormal hair growth and irregular menstrual cycles. All factors are associated with what can be noticed during female hair loss.
4 – Menopause
One of the most common causes of hair loss, menopause leads to hair thinning due to the high drop in estrogen when the phase is reached. The decrease in female hormone levels leads to loss of volume and density of hair, making it more brittle, as well as causing hair follicles to fall out.
5 – Anemia
In order to maintain healthy hair, it is essential that nutrient and mineral levels are high and constant. In the case of anemia, the main factor of which is iron deficiency, it is normal for the hair to lose its strength. The lack of the mineral causes a drop in hemoglobin concentration, resulting in tiredness, paleness and unresisting hair.
6 – Excess vitamin A or B causes hair loss
Did you know that excess vitamins can be harmful to hair health? This is the case with vitamins A and B, found in excess in supplements. Even though the case is considerably rarer, the likelihood of ingesting nutrients packed with both vitamins can lead to hair loss. Therefore, it is important to know how to dose the amount of supplement.
7 – Hyperthyroidism
The complication occurs when the thyroid, a gland located in the neck, does not work properly. Then, a series of hormones are no longer produced properly, causing a change in the flow that causes dysfunction in the metabolism, resulting in the interruption of hair growth. The situation occurs in such a way that the T3 and T4 hormones are no longer manufactured in the necessary doses, and thus, cellular replacement of the scalp is accelerated, leaving it exposed.
8 – Not having healthy habits causes hair loss
The proven truth that having unhealthy lifestyle habits negatively affects your hair makes it even more necessary to pay attention to this factor. Activities such as excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco not only attack the body, but also the hair. This causes the scalp to become dehydrated, preventing regular hair growth. Furthermore, cigarette smoke, when accumulated, weakens the wicks, due to the high concentration of toxic substances.
9 – Antidepressants and other medications
Initially, the leaflet of certain medications already warns of certain side effects. In the case of anticoagulants, antidepressants and blood pressure medications, the contribution to hair loss is verified. The consequence is more evident during the first months of use, or even after a long period of treatment. Medicines such as ibuprofen, lithium and methotrexate are also responsible for weakening the hair.
10 – Specific cases of female hair loss
There are autoimmune diseases that are exclusively responsible for high levels of hair loss. This is the case with alopecia, which can manifest itself in different regions and in different ways. Alopecia areata, however, specifically attacks the scalp, which causes the immune system to influence the hair follicles, attacking them and leading to their weakening. Despite this, the flaws can return to normal after some time, with proper treatment.
Hair loss treatments
Although the weakening and eventual loss of hair is still a considerably unknown subject, where depending on the case, your treatment may not be 100% effective, there are alternatives that help improve the condition and hair health. Having healthy habits, seeking a diagnosis as quickly as possible and paying attention to your body’s signs are key to helping with the problem.
1 – Changing habits
First of all, it is extremely important to maintain a healthy routine, involving a balanced diet, regular physical exercise and reducing the consumption of alcoholic beverages or tobacco. Often, simple better lifestyle habits can be enough to stop female hair loss.
2 – Specific remedies
When it comes to preventing hair loss, it is possible to name some effective remedies in slowing down the problem. Minoxidil, for example, is the most popular among those recommended by dermatologists, which helps to restore blood flow to the scalp, which effectively reduces hair loss. Likewise, there are also combinations that can be made between minoxidil and other substances, such as Finasteride, 17-alpha-estradiol and Zymo HSOR. However, a professional should be consulted before making any decision.
3 – Medical treatments
With the recommendation of a dermatologist, there are some possibilities on the market for stopping hair loss through aesthetic procedures. The low-power laser, for example, stimulates the regeneration of the region where the hair is damaged, in addition to preventing healthy hair from falling out. It must be applied once a week, for at least 10 weeks.
Carboxytherapy is excellent for reactivating blood flow in the scalp, as well as facilitating the penetration of products designed to prevent hair loss. And there is also hair implantation, a surgical procedure used to implant strands of hair directly into the damaged areas of the scalp. However, despite its effectiveness, it is possible for the hair to fall out again after 6 months, causing injuries.
Above all, it is necessary to consult a doctor who specializes in the case, who should advise you in the best way possible. This way, the treatment will be simpler, as well as proof against possible future unwanted side effects.
So, what did you think of this article? If you are interested, also check out Hair Loss – Possible causes of hair loss and treatments
Sources: Tua Saúde, Tua Saúde, Nioxin, Veja Saúde
Images: Aneethun, Beyoung, Clinipop, Econotax, Dr. Francisco de Assis, Drauzio Varella, Vittude, Capillary Dermatology, Vix, Drauzio Varella, Sou Enfermagem
