Hair loss during morning shower, while blowing dry or giving quick brush is pretty normal. You need not to see a hair loss doctor. We lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. These 50 to 100 hairs will be replaced by new hairs. However, excessive hair loss might be a sign of some serious health problem. The patient may need to see a hair loss doctor for diagnosis and treatment. A dermatologist can also do the diagnosis in case hair loss is occurring due to some skin condition. In this article, we are going to cover the 5 causes of hair loss in women.
Hereditary Hair Loss
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, hereditary hair loss is the biggest cause of hair fall. The gene you are inheriting either from your father’s or from your mother’s side of the family cause this condition. You may have this condition from both of your parents. This condition takes time to develop and the signs of hereditary hair loss can start appearing in 20s as well. The hair loss doctor will examine the hair fall pattern to figure out whether it is hereditary causing hair fall or there is some other cause. While applying minoxidil will slow down the hair fall, the best hair loss solution is FUE surgery.
Telogen Effluvium
This phenomenon occurs after major surgery, pregnancy, extreme stress, or drastic weight loss. The woman will lose a large amount of hairs while shampooing, brushing or shampooing. Side effects of beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory disease, and some other medications can also cause hair. If you are experiencing hair fall 6 to 20 weeks after a stressful event, it is a sign of Telogen Effluvium. Stress is not going to help. Avoid it. See a hair loss doctor for hair loss solutions. If needed, the doctor may suggest FUE surgery.
Hypothyroidism
There are millions of men and women suffering from this thyroid disease. However, the majority of Hypothyroidism patients are women. Hormones produced in our body play an important role in functions performed by our brain and body. Hormones are responsible for heart rate, mood, metabolism, and many other functions. An underactive thyroid produces a little amount of thyroid hormone and this adversely affects your metabolism rate. This also affects the growth of skin, nails, and hair.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained Weight Gain
- Depression
- Constipation
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Nails, hair, and skin become more brittle
- Heart Palpitations
- Nervousness and Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Muscle Weakness
- The startled appearance of the eyes
Thyroid hormone medication can restore the levels of hormone and successful treatment may also stop hair loss.
Lupus
This condition makes the immune system attack healthy tissues. A woman is likely to suffer from this autoimmune disease during their childbearing years. Symptoms of lupus include:
- Headaches
- Extreme fatigue
- Painful and swollen joints
- Oral ulcers
- Sensitive to the sun
- Fever
- Chest Pain
- Anemia
- Swelling in the hands & feet & around the eyes
- Hair loss while shampooing or brushing
See a doctor if the hair loss is with fatigue, joint pain and other symptoms of lupus. This condition can be treated with oral medication. The treatment will also fix hair fall. However, if there is pattern baldness, do consider FUE if the doctor recommends.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Five million women in the US are suffering from this condition. Hormonal imbalance due to ovaries producing too many male hormones can cause Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Apart from hair fall, this condition can also cause infertility. Hormone imbalance may cause facial hair growth but hair loss will occur on the scalp. Symptoms of this condition include:
- Irregular periods
- Facial hair growth
- Cysts on the ovaries
- Acne
Medication can treat this condition and fix hair fall. In case you have lost too much hair, you need to consider some hair loss solution such as FUE.
Apart from other health conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, skin conditions of scalp and Alopecia Areata, the way you style your hair can also cause hair fall.
