The Dramatics Of Hair Loss In Women
Posted on January 2, 2009
Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of
hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of
vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible
thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing
breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.
Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or
scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or
surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.
Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as strictly
something that happens to men, although women actually make up to forty
percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or
over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss
annually.
First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent
within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair
each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000
individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the
loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New
hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair
follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.
Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair
shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands
that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the
hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative
ability.
For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year
growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period
(telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends
the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our
comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some
hair loss is perfectly normal.
Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth
is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing,
resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of
balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family
history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding.
Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the
development, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the
noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick,
vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant
full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into
our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a
thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of
shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth,
desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack
luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.
A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their
hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful,
however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our
thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women
frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid
intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and
quantity of our hair.
Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or
careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young
woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we
are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how
essential hair is to our overall persona.
A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20,
however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the
normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment
and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair
of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the
elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s
sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her established place in
family and society are often undermined by hair loss.
It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of
thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some
degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or
have a balding pattern by age 60.
In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a
demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum
capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to
shave their heads.
Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline,
research indicates that the psychological pain of hair loss does not
affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with
hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling
of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.
Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges:
wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles.
It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow
to our self esteem.
Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common
type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of
female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydro-testosterone or DHT
which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the
hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause
may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking
sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes,
testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a
shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from
shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss
several months after delivering a baby.
Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair.
Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances,
chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can
also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription
drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling
that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive
hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from
dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use
of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe
hair shedding.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may
seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually
caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and
hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and
growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of
the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional
deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay
attention.
Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying
medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair
loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a
result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments
and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.
Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss
you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn
about the treatment options available such as hair transplant
procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia,
hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go
a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of
your hair growth cycle. Although medical research is on going, the
following have proven beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy
head of hair.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair
is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your
health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you
may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be
indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may
be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.
Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women
with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It
is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is
important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair
growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be
aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.
The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.
Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can
play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in
preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining
hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach,
soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well
as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.
Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss
Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the
benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have
properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.
Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care
Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and
toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the
natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth.
Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive
to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of
the scalp.
Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than
using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing
damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so
handle with care. Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull
or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your
hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at
and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair
sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the
natural luster of your hair.
Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always
wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a
mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care
products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging
affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the
scalp.
Healthy Lifestyle
Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are.
I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective
and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right
and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at
peace with who you are. Remember, that for some , hair grows back as
mysteriously as it disappeared.
About the author
Tags: america one, anagen, approved medications, daily basis, dead cells, dormant period, excessive hair loss, follicle, growth phase, hair extensions, hair growth cycle, hair shaft, hair strand, hair strands, human scalp, new hair, progressive increase, scalp hair, shower drain, telogen
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my dad recently got a Hair Transplant, it was very expensive but the results are worth it.’:.