There’s a common misconception that hair loss is primarily a male concern. However, as many women will readily attest, thinning hair can impact anyone, and the results are almost always traumatic.
For the average woman, it’s pretty normal to shed 80 to 100 hairs every day. Not only is this natural, but it’s necessary: Your follicles need to lose old, dying hairs in order to make room for new growth. So, a little shedding is nothing to worry about.
But more significant hair loss may lead to some concern. The good news is that female hair loss can always be treated, and we offer a number of solutions right here at Luminary Cosmetic Medicine & Hair Restoration.
Before we get into treatments, it may be helpful to illuminate the triggers that cause women to lose their hair.
It’s worth noting that the majority of men lose their hair for one basic reason: Male pattern hair loss, which accounts for more than 90 percent of all masculine baldness.
For women, the different causes of hair loss are a little more diverse. Indeed, about one third of all women will eventually deal with hair loss, but the reasons can be quite wide-ranging.
- Genetic factors. Some women are genetically predisposed to losing their hair. These women will notice a progressive and gradual reduction in hair volume. The underlying cause here is an imbalance of hormones, which adversely impact follicular growth cycles.
- Nutritional deficiency. Some women lose their hair because they aren’t giving their follicles the proper nutrients. (Hair follicles, like all other parts of your body, need some fuel in order to work the way they’re supposed to.) Crash diets, in particular, can trigger female hair loss.
- Severe stress. While it’s uncommon for stress to be so extreme as to cause hair loss, there are documented cases of prolonged and intense stress contributing to women’s hair loss. Physical stress, brought on by major surgery, may also contribute to thinning hair.
- Medical treatments. It should go without saying that chemotherapy and radiation treatments can lead to hair loss, but so can many pharmaceuticals.
- Hormonal imbalance. Hormones regulate the hair growth process, and an imbalance of those hormones can lead to hair loss. Endocrine disorders and metabolic syndromes, including PCOS, may result in hormonally induced hair loss. Thyroid disorders may also be linked with women’s hair loss.
While these aren’t the only triggers of female hair loss, they are some of the most common ones.
No matter the cause of women’s hair loss, the effects can be demoralizing. The good news is that there is always hope. We invite you to reach out to our practice to find out more about hair restoration options, including hair transplants.
We would love to chat with you about the options available to you. Contact Luminary Cosmetic Medicine & Hair Restoration and book a free consultation today.