Hair loss – The silent epidemic and what you can do about it
A woman’s hair speaks volume about who she is, her style, her taste and even the way she feels about herself – it frames her face and accentuates her best features. A woman’s hair is often associated with her femininity, which is why hair loss can be so devastating for the over 30 million women who suffer from it.
Why do Women Experience Hair Loss?
Woman’s hair loss is seen more in the frontal hairline and the crown area, and two thirds of women face hair loss at some point in her life. It can result from heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. For many, the loss is permanent, and for some the cause of hair loss is treatable.
The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic Alopecia, genetic hair loss that can come from either side of the family. This is where the hair is genetically programmed to gradually fall out, occurring in one out of four women. It affects approximately one third of all susceptible women and is most commonly seen after menopause. Lately, we have seen more and more women between the ages of 20 to 45, and even young teens with thinning hair.
True hair loss occurs when lost hairs are not replaced with new growth and when daily hair shedding exceeds 125 hairs. At menopause, the level of estrogen usually declines which is why the effects of women’s hair loss are often seen among this age group. It is believed that this type of hair loss is caused by an inherited sensitivity in the hair follicles to the male hormone testosterone. And yes, women do have testosterone in their bodies; however the female hormone estrogen usually protects the female body against the effects of testosterone.
Other reasons for women’s hair loss can be from physical or emotional stress and trauma. This can trigger hair loss whether women are predestined to lose hair or not. Hair loss due to stress is not usually permanent. In women who do have hereditary hair loss, stress can actually speed up the process. Severe stress such as loss of a loved one, strenuous sports, training, severe illness, surgeries and drastic weight loss cause the body to simply shut down the
production of hair and instead devote its energies towards repairing vital body structures. You many notice less hair four weeks to three months after an illness or surgery, high fever or severe flu
Some health conditions, which may go undetected, can contribute to hair loss. These include anemia or low blood count, thyroid abnormalities or drugs such as blood pressure medications, diabetic, heart disease, antidepressants, arthritis and acne medications to mention a few.
If you believe that you are suffering from one of the above disorders or are experiencing hair loss, you should consult your family doctor or a dermatologist, and then a professional hair replacement clinic to determine your options. There are solutions and support; all you need to do is take the first step.
Amalia Ruggiero is the founder of Capilia by Truly You Hair Solution Centre, where she has been providing information and solutions for women suffering fro hair loss for over 15 years and she educated women on how to deal with their appearance related side effects of cancer and its treatments through the Look Good Feel Better Program.