I get a lot of correspondence from women who are trying to find out why hair loss occurs and what to do about it. I recently heard a woman say, in part, “What can you do when you are a woman whose hair is falling out, thinning or falling out? Because many treatments and recommendations are directed at men, I feel left out and lost. “
Hair loss in women is a somewhat difficult subject on many levels. While men can shave their heads if they are dealing with this problem and are socially accepted, the same is not true for a woman. And while there are many simple treatment options for men, the same is not always true for the opposite sex.
In the following article, I will offer some suggestions that will hopefully help readers who are dealing with this situation.
Look at the possible reasons for hair loss in women: When you’re a man, it’s a relatively decent bet that your hair loss is due to hormones (and probably androgens). But when you are a woman, this is only one option among many. That said, it has become a common sight to see androgen-driven hair loss in both genders, so it is sometimes a mistake to assume that you can rule this out because you are female. And sometimes this type of hair loss in women is more diffuse than patterned, making it even more confusing.
Like men, hormones are often a place to look when women lose their hair. Sometimes what you are facing is declining hormones due to age. And other times, it is a sensitivity that develops over time. And it’s also important to know that these diminishing hormones can lead to hair loss-causing medical conditions like hypothyroidism.
In addition to hormones, there are medical and dermatological problems that can cause hair loss, as well as reactions to medications you are taking or products you might be using (especially on the scalp). There can also be problems like yeast, infections, or ringworm. In short, there is no shortage of reasons why women lose hair. Of course, some (like hormones or medical problems) are more common than others. But there are many potential answers.
Make your hair look better while trying to figure out why it falls out:I often tell people that the most effective way to deal with hair loss in women is to discover the cause and aggressively treat it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more ground you have to make up.
Of course, this may be easier said than done. Sometimes it takes a while (and a bit of trial and error) until you can find out what is causing this and you can successfully treat it. In the meantime, it never hurts to do everything you can to fight inflammation (which often occurs simultaneously with hair loss) and stimulate regrowth. There are many treatments that help with both of these problems and are good for many types of hair loss. And, if you can get your hair to grow back quickly and vigorously, this will help your hair’s appearance a lot. If you can replace what is falling, that’s half the battle.
While you wait for your hair loss to improve, you can do everything you can to improve the appearance of your hair. This means keeping it clean and free of debris that can clog the follicles and make things worse. I know it’s tempting to cut back on hair washing as it seems to make hair loss worse, but it’s rarely a good idea. You can also use powders that help blend your scalp and can make your hair appear thicker. A good haircut, color, and perhaps some waves or curls can also improve the appearance of your hair as you explore causes and treatments.
If hair loss is really bad, you should know that hairpieces, ornaments and wigs have come a long way. Many look extremely real and better than your normal hair.