Losing hair - be it thinning, receding or even balding - is often considered a man’s problem. The truth is, women experience hair loss as well - and if you, like many women, consider your hair a defining feature, the change can be traumatic. The good news is, if you’re a woman trying to cope with losing hair, you’re not on your own, and you’re definitely not at a loss when it comes to options.
Of course, we lose hair all the time - 50 to100 strands a day, which out of well over a hundred thousand is barely noticeable. But if that natural shedding increases to losing more than a hundred hairs daily, that’s when you’ll begin to notice a difference. For some women, thinning hair may be a part of the aging process or the result of hormonal changes; for others it’s often a case of heredity working against them. However, there are other causes too, many of which are temporary and reversible.
Excessive stress can induce hair loss. So can health factors like iron deficiency, surgery, reactions to prescription drugs or underlying medical conditions. Overuse or improper application of chemicals like relaxers, perm solutions and hair dye can also cause hair loss. Even wearing the same hair clips all the time could give you trouble.
The first step in dealing with hair loss is to find out why it’s happening. Keeping track of your diet, medications and what chemicals you use on your hair, and looking for any significant changes to your schedule or stress load, are good places to start. If you notice a problem, go see your doctor. A physical exam and tests (which may include a scalp biopsy) could help identify the cause of your hair loss. It might also help you slow down, stop or possibly reverse the problem.
There are a variety of different treatment options depending on the cause and nature of your hair loss. If its stress or some aspect of your life that’s making your hair fall out, get rid of it or change it if you can. Nutritional supplements or women’s Rogaine have been known to improve the condition for some women.
Mousse, hair pieces and other products can help create the sense that you’ve got a full head of hair - and are particularly welcome while you’re waiting to see if a treatment is going to work. Some women even choose to wear a full wig. But whatever route you decide on, remember: while it may feel like the end of the world, you’re not without options and you’re not alone.
Brandon Shepperd loves his baseball. His favorite team is the Atlanta Braves and loses his hair over the season… literally. Brandon also writes for Hair Loss Guru an informative site about
Hair Loss,
Balding,
Hair Transplant and more.
