Understanding Female Hair Loss

When you think of issues relating to hair loss or balding, the first person you’d picture will most likely be male. Truth is, most women are oblivious to the realities of hair loss affecting women despite it being a very real issue. Whether it’s the thinning of your hair or a bald spot, significant hair loss is one of the most demoralising occurrences that could affect your confidence.

 

When we look at things in a general sense, everyone does lose hair. Whether you’re blow drying your hair or giving it a brush, you’ll definitely witness a few strands of hair fall out. This is an entirely normal process as new hair will grow in place of that which is lost. This starts turning for the worse, however, when the volume of your hair is considerably reduced due to the lack of replacement of hair that falls out.

 

What Causes Hair Loss in Women?

Due to the uniqueness of every person, the causes of hair loss vary from one woman to another. The culprit of hair loss could range from daily stress to a more sinister underlying health problem.

 

Here’s a list of the most common causes of hair loss in women:

 

1. Stress and Trauma – Any form of physical or emotional stress and trauma may cause temporary hair loss. If you’re overly worried about your child’s performance in school or just had a minor surgery done, you could be a victim of hair loss. The trigger of hair loss due to stress and trauma is known as telogen effluvium which is the second most common cause of hair loss dermatologists see. The life cycle of hair growth includes a growth phase, a rest phase, and a shedding phase. When your body or mind is put in shock from stress and trauma, the hair growth cycle stagnates into the shedding phase. The good news, however, is that hair loss from stress and trauma is usually temporary, and once you recover from the stress, your hair will grow back again.

 

2. Pregnant Women – A massive change in your body may be physically traumatic despite you not being mindfully aware of it. As a result of this change, your body may react in a negative manner that may lead to hair loss. It is more common for hair loss to happen post-delivery than during pregnancy. You need not worry too much if you fall under this category as hair growth will usually resume once your body recovers back to its normal self.

 

3. Diet – A diet that is low in protein or has a severely restricted calorie intake may cause temporary hair loss. Further, a deficiency in Vitamin C can cause hair loss.

 

4. Hereditary Hair Loss – Some women may face hereditary hair loss passed from generation to generation.

 

Treatments for Hair Loss

The most common medical treatments for hair loss is Rogaine and Propecia which are the only approved drugs by the FDA for treating hereditary hair loss. These treatments are also available in Australia. Other treatments include professional laser therapy and hair replacement surgery.

 

For those who prefer a more natural approach, here is a list of natural hair loss treatments:

 

1. Oil Scalp Massage – Massaging your hair with oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil may prove to be effective. By massaging your scalp, you increase the blood flow to your hair follicles which aid in its growth.

 

2. Onion Juice – Onions have a high sulphur content which helps increase blood circulation to your hair follicles. By extracting the juice from onions and massaging it onto your scalp, the antibacterial properties from the onions will also help get rid of any scalp infection that may be responsible for your hair loss.

 

3. Fenugreek – The hormone antecedents, proteins, and nicotinic acid contained in fenugreek seeds stimulate hair growth by repairing and rebuilding hair follicles.

 

Author

Toppik Australia provide hair thickening solutions for thousands of satisfied Australians every year, including people who are currently undergoing hair regrowth treatment.