Hair Loss Basics

You might not be aware about it but 1 out of 4 American women have female hair loss. Although not as prominent as they are in men, women who have Female Pattern Baldness or FBP experience the same thing men do in terms of hair getting thinner until no hair eventually grows from the scalp.

FBP in women can be caused by:

• Heredity
• High levels of male sex hormones known as androgens
• Age
• Hormones gone awry because of menopause, birth control pills or even pregnancy
• Iron deficiency
• Exposure to toxins (smoking, chemotherapy, certain medicinal compounds)

Some say women are luckier than men when it comes to hair loss. Women do not generally experience total hair loss on all parts of their head as the frontal hairline is usually still intact. Sometimes, not all parts of the scalp experience thinning and instead grow thicker. This just leads to hair that is less dense but with no signs of hair loss.

However, women are unluckier than men when it comes to hair loss. Men do not have to deal with the societal consequences of hair that is not attractively dense and lush. Hair loss in men is usually pretty obvious and occurs early on with telltale signs in the shape of their crowns. Women would normally detect it in their late 20’s to early 40’s.

Stress that causes hair loss and thinning is not FBP. Known as telogen effluvium, it is the body’s way of diverting energy during the resting phase. Hair lost in sleep is easily replaced by new hair and less stress.

Although women do not normally experience total hair loss, it can happen. This would most likely be caused by other factors. Since baldness is caused by the sebaceous glands producing more male hormones that lead to hair thinning and loss, it is advisable for women to have themselves checked in cases of extreme hair loss. Preventing hair loss in women, especially in today’s world cannot be more important.

Treatment for baldness or receding hair is different for men and women. Finasteride (Propecia) is good for men but women and children would find this medication too strong. Minoxidil (Rogaine) can be practical for both men and women but with baldness being rarer in women and with hair loss likely to become more of a symptom rather than the actual disease in women, proper examinations and diagnoses should be made before getting treated.

Stress and the release of certain hormones due to stress can cause baldness.  And worrying about hair loss can cause stress.  Therefore, dealing with thinning hair and managing your stress level are important factors to treating baldness.

Like with everything in life, when you see a problem, it’s always best to take action immediately. When it comes to Male Pattern Baldness or MPB, recognize the early signs:

• Hair will get thinner and the hair line will start to recede.
• Then, hair all around the scalp will start thinning in bunches until the baldness becomes more evident.

On average, men prone to MPB start showing these signs at the age of 25 to 30.

It is normal to start out in denial. In fact, some even just accept the baldness. Those with the confidence, sport this new fashion, even shaving off the hair that is left on their scalp. The less assured opt to buy wigs to hide it. Even if you’re not sure that it’s MPB, get going towards dealing with it - now.

In this case, time is not on your side. Delaying or trying to “fix” it yourself will just mean more hair loss. While you ponder and while you try out the latest self-applied concoction, your hair is also thinning and eventually disappearing in sync with you.

Remember that early treatment is more effective and it will cost you less in the long run. Studies show that medication and therapy for hair loss is more effective when treated earlier. When things start to get serious, it will be harder to cure and more expensive to remedy.

So, do the right thing as soon as possible:

• Seek medical advice from a qualified and certified physician. Go see your doctor, preferably a hair restoration specialist. He or she can positively identify the reason for your hair loss. Get expert help because the baldness might just be a symptom and not the actual problem.
• Get treatment immediately. There are many options available from FDA approved medication to hair surgery. Your doctor will know which ones would be right for you.
• Follow your doctor’s advice and live healthy. Smoking, whether you’re the smoker or your inhaling second hand smoke, not only causes lung cancer but brings about poorer hair conditions.
• Eat well. Lack of protein and iron in your body can cause hair to thin.
• Get enough rest. Relax and manage your stress levels.
• Exercise. Blood circulation is needed for hair to grow.
• Stay positive. Having a wholesome attitude towards the problem will help in dealing with the hair loss.

Now that you have reached age x (an age most women would lie about at some point or other), you are starting to stress about your eminent baldness - what with your hair thinning out and your hairline seriously receding. But hair does not all go away overnight. Keep in mind that each strand on your head normally has a life cycle of 3 to 8 years. After that, the shaft is dropped from the follicle and a new one grows in its place. People prone to be bald, however, experience miniaturization, that is, the strands become thinner and with shorter life spans each time until no hair is produced altogether. Here are some reasons why you’re showing more skin (and less hair):

Male Hormones

The reason why it’s usually the men who grow bald (although female baldness can go from just thinning hair to no hair at all) is because men excrete male hormones or androgens such as dihydrotestosterone or DHT more than women do. The sebaceous glands, which are generally located in hair-covered areas, secrete 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme which converts testosterone or androgens into DHT, which flows through the blood stream. Too much DHT in the follicles can weaken the latter over time.

Genes

As you probably already know, if your dad, uncles, grandpas and other relatives are thinning on top or entirely hairless, chances are that you will be too by the time you reach their age. 95% of baldheadedness is because of genes. You had a tendency to have a lot of testosterone and, in turn, a lot of DHT even before they were out of their mothers’ wombs.

Hereditary Spot Baldness

Alopecia areata (AA) is an auto-immune disease which, unfortunately, you have no control over. This rare kind of hair loss can happen at any age and can appear as small usually circular patches of baldness or a totally clean scalp. These patches often grow back and appear in other parts of your head a number of times.

Smoking

Surgeon general’s warning: Smoking can cause baldness. Whether you smoke or get it as second hand smoke, the many fatal and harmful substances in found in cigarettes and tobacco can hasten hair loss and delay the end result of drugs or surgery to cure baldness.

Anemia

Iron deficiency, which is more common in women, can also affect men. Although studies are wanting, the lack of iron can accelerate hair loss to those who are already prone to having it.

Female hormones

Whacked out hormones from pregnancy, birth control pills and menopause can cause hair to thin or be lost completely.

Thyroid Disease

Both hypo- and hyperthyroid can make hair brittle, break and be lost. Studies show, though, that curing the thyroid disease can cure the hair loss.

Drugs

Make sure your doctor knows which pills you are taking. Prescribed medicine, over-the-counter drugs and even vitamins may contain chemicals that induce baldness.

Chemotherapy

Radiation can cause hair thinning and baldness.

Infections

Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection) and (tinea capitis) ringworm of the scalp can cause hair loss.