Monday, August 8, 2011

Hair Loss Affects Women Too

When people think of hair loss, they often forget about hair loss in women. Loss of hair in females is something that is more common than we realize. This condition is a significant issue that affects the lives of women everywhere. Women can more easily camouflage the issue of losing their hair by wearing wigs, scarves, hairpieces, extensions or using creative hairstyles hiding the problem from others and often from themselves.

What Causes Female Hair Loss

Hair loss in women can come from multiple sources. If you know the different causes, you can know what to look for if you are starting to see the beginnings of this condition. If you have already started to lose hair, then treatment should be imminent.

One of the major causes of hair loss in women is stress. Just like men, stress is one of the hair loss causes that can actually be stopped and reversed. Facing the problem and finding a solution to the stress issues permits the body to get back to normal without the ‘fight or flight’ hormones in its system. Consulting your doctor is the best way to work on this particular cause.

Another major cause is lack of proper nutrition. If someone has malnutrition issues or missing some of the important vitamins and nutrients that they need, they can lose their hair. The hair cannot remain thick and strong and the hair will not remain anchored to the follicle if the body does not have the healthy level of nutrition that it needs.

Another reason for loss of hair is the excessive use of hair chemicals. Hair loss in women can be caused by gooey shampoos or conditioners that clog the scalp follicles. Not enough shampooing leaves too much oil behind and too much shampooing with harsh products can strip the hair of essential oils, hence damaging the hair by making it weak and brittle.

Dyeing, perming, or straightening the hair uses chemicals that are not good for hair health. Excessive use of curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers can also speed up the process of losing one’s hair. Also, some prescribed drugs can take their toll on the body and cause temporary or permanent loss. Most women want to look their “best” as judged by society in the latest magazine and TV ads but abuse of the scalp and body takes its toll eventually and we can wind up losing the very item we were trying to beautify in the first place.