The Many Causes of Women’s Hair Loss

Everybody knows that men are not thrilled about going bald. What is not as widely known is how much women dread the same thing. This condition in women is a worldwide problem. For women, and much moreso in Western countries, hair loss is extremely embarrassing and causes immense emotional pain. There are social expectations about women and hair, and just one of them is that women don’t, and shouldn’t, lose their hair. Getting thin or going bald is very hard for women to deal with. Also, did you know that hair loss happens as much in women as it does in men? What are some of the causes of this hair loss?

For men, you know there is male pattern hair loss. And women have the same condition, and it’s called female pattern baldness. It’s not same as androgenic alopecia, but it’s similar to it. For women, the main difference is pattern of hair loss. In men, this condition hits in specific places first and then stretches out to other areas of the scalp. What is seen in women is the thinning out all over the top.

You can say the distinction for women is that there’s really no distinct pattern.

The primary cause of thinning and baldness in women is alopecia areata. Surprisingly, it’s a disorder of the the autoimmune system. But you cannot detect this by yourself. You have to get a diagnosis by a doctor. Should you notice that your hair is thinning, then go see your doctor about that. Yet there is good news to this story because it is a condition that can be treated. Since it is autoimmune related, then that is why it can be treated. When you see your doctor, you’ll be given a way to treat it that will work best for you.

Certain chronic illnesses can cause, in addition to their other symptoms, women’s hair loss. Sometimes this depends on the types of medications that you are prescribed to counteract the effects of these illnesses. In other situations, if there is hair loss involved it is a symptom, and that will help the physician make a diagnosis. As you can imagine, very often the chronic illness will last forever and throughout the remainder of the person’s life. The situation is usually one in which there is management of any symptoms with medication, and there is no cure for it. As is often the case, here, the hair loss has to be endured because the medication needs to be taken. You do have options in the area of coping with the hair loss, and there are some options for you – just talk to your doctor. There are lots of reasons that a woman might lose her hair. There are environmental, emotional, and physical scenarios and reasons. As always, only a medical professional, your doctor, can find out the real reason for your condition. Whatever the cause, they will help you to find out for sure what it is. There are always options available, and what they are will depend on what exactly is causing your hair problems.

Controlling hairfall is a few meals away

Tired of sweeping countless strands of hair on the floor? Or are you losing sleep over a receding hairline? Then it’s probably time to get up and take control of your hairfall. A normal individual loses about 70-100 strands of hair daily which are replaced by new strands. But in case of severe
hairfall, the quantity of hair lost each day increases with or without a reduced rate of newer hair growth.

Hair loss is a concern for both men and women, but more visible in men. About 50 per cent men complain of thinning of hair along with a receding hairline by the age of 45 or more.  In case of women, the complaints of thinning of hair or severe hairfall start around the age of 50 or post-menopause.

Why do we lose hair?
The most common reason for hair loss is the male hormone testosterone, which is also found in women. Increased consumption of medication could also cause hairfall. Hormonal changes in women during periods of pregnancy, lactation, menopause or thyroid disease are also responsible for increased hair loss. Inadequate intake of protein, low levels of iron and zinc or a deficiency of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) results in increased hairloss.

Dealing with hair loss
It is important to provide every follicle the nutrition it needs. Substantial intake of quality protein via non-vegetarian or vegetarian sources is a must. You can opt for soyabean and soy products, pulses, lentils, milk, curd and nuts. Iron can also be obtained from other sources like green leafy vegetables, gardencress seeds, dates, raisins, eggs etc.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of magnesium and zinc, that promote hair nourishment. Fish, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, mustard seeds and soyabean are also good sources of essential fatty acids that promote hair nourishment.

The health of your hair depends on the circulation to the scalp and the nutrients in your blood. Regular exercise will stimulate circulation. Coriander juice with mint and curry leaf juice helps provide beneficial nutrients.

Foods high in sugar content, caffeine, alcohol can increase hairfall due to the production of cortisols and stress hormones. Research also proves that smoking leads to faster graying of hair. Topical application of almond oil, castor oil or olive oil on the scalp has shown to be beneficial. Herbs like tulsi, brahmi, amla, rosemary, sage and triphala improve the health of the scalp and reduce hairloss.

One should also take care while washing hair. Don’t over dry your hair as it becomes brittle. Use mild shampoos and conditioners. Using hot water for washing, irons and hot blowdryers can also damage hair. Be gentle while brushing and combing your hair.

Hairfall is a manifestation of the body’s health status. Prolonged hairfall should not be ignored, diet should be modified and medical help should be sought before the problem gets out of hand.

Hair Loss Treatment – Simple Tips To Treat Hair Loss

Hair Loss Treatment, while thinning hair is a normal part of the aging process, excessive thinning of hair can be the result of factors you may very well have control over—and some that are, unfortunately, embedded in your DNA. But that doesn’t mean you need to start calling those late-night-television 800 numbers for a “free” hair loss evaluation, which typically results in costly hair loss treatment. In fact, recent advances in medical science has uncovered healthy hair loss treatment regiments to help slow hair loss due to hereditary, hormonal changes, irritation, damage, and diseases, such as autoimmune disorder.
Hair loss treatment – the basics

Hair loss treatment

First the basics. Hair grows in cycles—a growth phase and a resting phase. The growth phase of scalp hair (anagen) typically lasts two to three years, during which your hair will grow less than a half inch per month. The resting phase (telogen) generally lasts three to four months. Hair strands will fall out at the end of this phrase, with new ones taking their place. The growth stage begins anew once the hair is shed. Shedding amounts to fifty to one hundred hairs a day. Since most people have nearly 100,000 hairs in their scalp, the loss of fifty to one hundred hairs a day should not be that noticeable.

However, when hair loss exceeds the amount of the growth—when you start finding hair bunched up on the bottom of the tub after a shower, this is a sure indication that one day you may be wearing sunscreen on your head. There are, of course, specific types of hair loss that require hair loss treatment. Pattern baldness, for example, which applies to men and women, is when the growth time shortens and new hairs fail to remain thick and sturdy. Heredity is generally the key factor in pattern baldness, especially if there is a history of androgenetic alopecia in the family. Hair loss treatment may also be necessary due to cicatricial (scarring) alopecia, which is when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle and new hair is prevented from growing. Other medical issues that can exacerbate hair loss and may result in hair loss treatment include telogen effluvium, in which an emotional or physical shock to your system that causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state, and traction alopecia, which is when excessive hairstyling or hairstyles pull your hair too tightly and results in scarring of your scalp and permanent damage to the root.

Poor nutrition may also result in hair loss treatment—especially if you excessively engage in fad diets or have an eating disorder. Certain drugs for treating gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems, and high blood pressure may cause hair loss as well; this includes taking birth control pills. Finally, diabetes and lupus may lead to hair loss, and chemo and radiation therapy typically leads to alopecia. Fortunately, as radiation treatment subsides, hair will typically begin to grow back and hair loss treatment may not be necessary.

What can you do to help prevent hair loss in just about any of these situations? Here are ten tips for hair loss treatment, recommended by medical professionals and health and beauty experts.
Ten tips for hair loss treatment

1. Certain shampoos, which can be used in hair loss treatment, may help slow or stop hair loss. Check the labels. Shampoos that contain rosemary or caffeine may help promote blood circulation, which will stimulate the scalp and the hair follicle. Avoid using shampoos advertised for hair loss treatment that contain a laundry list of ingredients (especially ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, TEA lauryl sulfate, and sulfur, which is found in dandruff shampoos).

2. Silica capsules or drops are useful in hair loss treatment to help strengthen nails and hair. It will take two to three months of consistent use to see visible results. Another common vitamin for hair loss treatment is biotin, which helps promote healthy cell growth. Read the labels for dosage recommendations.

3. Several different oils may be beneficial in hair loss treatment. Castor oil, for example, helps build strong, thick, and voluminous hair. Simply mix about a teaspoon of castor oil into your regular shampoo, followed by using a natural conditioner (minus the aforementioned chemical additives). The difference in hair texture and density will become immediately noticeable, though stopping hair loss itself as a result will be more gradual. The anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil will keep it from clogging up your pores in hair loss treatment. Rubbing the oil directly onto the scalp and leaving it in overnight will help strength hair follicles. Olive oil also helps to heal stubborn scalps and provides nourishment for your hair in a course of hair loss treatment. Finally, sesame oil will add sheen to your hair and help relieve scalp irritation. Use about a teaspoon of these oils, either mixed in with your shampoo or leave it in your hair overnight (wear a night cap to keep the oil from getting all over your pillow case).

4. Medications (prescription and nonprescription) are also used in hair loss treatment. Most of these medications contain alfatradiol, which blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which is the hormone that converts damaging hair.

5. Apple cider vinegar and black strap molasses have been used for centuries for hair loss treatment. Apple cider vinegar contains essential probiotics that will help stabilize your hair’s natural bacteria balance. Wash your hair with a mixture of half water and half apple cider. Eating two tablespoons of black strap molasses every day will help maintain your energy levels, hair, and skin due to its high levels of iron. Iron deficiency is also a notable factor in sudden hair loss.

6. Aloe vera, the plants of which are easy to grow, will also help in hair loss treatment. In fact, aloe vera is a common ingredient in most shampoos because it helps balance a scalp’s pH levels.

7. Following a diet that contains protein-rich foods such as tuna, lean meat, and whole milk is also useful in hair loss treatment. Protein is necessary for tissue repair and for the construction of new tissue, especially in the scalp, where it help prevent hair breakage.

8. It’s not just protein that helps maintain healthy hair. You also want to include lots of vegetables and fruits in your diet. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will add the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for hair loss treatment. Dark green vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, and Swiss chard, are excellent sources of vitamins A and C.

9. You also want to keep in mind how you wash your hair in a hair loss treatment regiment (and in general). Wash your head with cold or luke-warm water. Hot water will damage your hair follicles. Do not wash your hair with a bar of soap, which is meant for your skin. You also want to avoid using the high-heat setting on your hair dryer. And it’s always best to avoid excessive use of hair dyes and a curling iron.

10. Finally, abiding by a few simple common sense rules for healthy living will help with a hair loss treatment. For one, quit smoking and ease up on alcohol use. Avoid wearing a tight hair style, which will ultimately pull your hair from its roots. And get proper sleep, which will help alleviate stress—stress often leads to premature graying and hair loss.
Conclusion of hair loss treatment

Following all of these tips for hair loss treatment will not always guarantee a fashion model’s luxurious head of hair. However, if you fail to achieve any kind of positive result, it is critical that you see your doctor. There may be a health issue going on that you are unaware of. The doctor will look at your medical history, such as what medications you are using and hereditary issues, and help you devise a hair loss treatment plan. Keep in mind that most insurance carriers do not cover hair loss treatment.