What is hair loss in women? and what are the types of female hair loss?

Hair loss in women can be a very common problem, especially for those who are experiencing it during their menopause years. It’s not uncommon to experience some degree of thinning or shedding of your hair if you have gone through the changes that come with this stage of life. However, there are also many other causes of hair loss in women, and they can affect anyone at any age.

 What Causes Hair Loss In Women?

There are several different reasons why hair loss in women may occur. Some of these include:

1. Hormonal Changes During Menopause

The most common cause of hair loss in women is hormonal changes that take place as we get older. This includes things like hormone imbalances, which can lead to more rapid hair loss than normal. There are also various medical conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes, and even cancer that can contribute to hair loss in women.

2. Stress

Stress has been shown to play a role in causing hair loss in women. If stress levels become too high, then this can actually trigger hair loss in women. The same goes for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

3. Genetics

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Certain genes can make certain people prone to hair loss. For example, if you have a family history of hair loss, then this could increase your risk of developing it.

4. Medications

Certain medications can cause hair loss in women. These include antidepressants, birth control pills, and antihistamines.

5. Medical Conditions

Medical conditions like anemia, hypothyroidism, alopecia areata, and lupus can all cause hair loss in women.

6. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatments can cause hair loss in both men and women. It’s important to note that chemotherapy drugs can target both male and female hormones, so this can lead to increased hair loss in women. Also, radiation therapy can lead to hair loss in women as well.

7. Surgery

Some surgeries can cause hair loss in men and women. This includes things like breast reduction surgery and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).

8. Environmental Factors

Some environmental factors can cause hair loss in either men or women. Things like extreme heat, cold, dry air, and pollution can all contribute to hair loss in both genders.

If you’re wondering what type of hair loss you may be facing, here are seven different types of female hair loss:

 1. Alopecia Areata (AA)

Alopecia areata, also known as AA or “spotting”, is a common autoimmune disease that causes small circular patches of hair to fall out. It can affect any part of the body but most commonly affects the scalp and eyebrows. The cause of this condition is unknown, however, it has been linked with stress, hormones, genetics, thyroid problems, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, certain medications, and other medical conditions. There is no cure for AA, however, there are treatments available to help manage symptoms such as itching, redness, scaling, inflammation, and scarring.

2. Androgenic alopecia (AGA)

Androgenic alopecias include male and female pattern baldness and AGA. Male pattern baldness occurs in men over 40 years old and is characterized by receding hairlines and thinning hair on top of the head. This type of hair loss is caused by the gradual conversion of terminal hairs into vellus hairs. Male pattern baldness usually begins at the temples and progresses toward the back of the head. Men who have had their testosterone levels checked will often find that they have low levels of testosterone. Testosterone plays a role in maintaining healthy hair follicles. As your testosterone level decreases, so does your ability to maintain healthy hair follicles.

3. Telogen effluvium (TE)

Telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair loss that occurs when your hair falls out too quickly. It is typically seen after childbirth, illness, or emotional trauma. While telogen effluvium may look like AA, it is not actually a form of AA because it is not caused by an immune system response. Instead, it is caused by a sudden change in hormone levels.

4. Trichotillomania (TTM)

Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which people pull out their own hair. In some cases, the person pulls out all of their hair. Some people experience this urge without realizing what they are doing. People with trichotillomania feel ashamed about having the problem and try to hide it from others.

5. Anagen Effluvium (AE)

Anagen effluvium is the premature shedding of new hair growth. It is sometimes referred to as “miniaturization” (or miniaturized) alopecia. It is caused by a sudden decrease in circulating blood volume, resulting in decreased oxygen supply to hair follicles. This triggers the release of pigment-containing cells called melanocytes from the bulge area of the hair follicle. Melanocyte migration leads to the formation of black dots on the scalp. These dots then turn brownish-black and eventually disappear. The condition is more likely to occur in those with dark skin.

6. Female pattern baldness (FPB)

Female pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss among women. It is generally hereditary and can begin showing up around puberty. Women with FPB have hair that sheds regularly throughout adulthood. Hair loss tends to be progressive and may get worse before improving.

7. Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA)

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is another name for chemotherapy-related hair loss. This type of hair damage is caused by cancer treatment drugs. Commonly used chemo drugs include cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, bleomycin, and mitoxantrone.

these types of hair loss are permanent and cannot be reversed. But there are treatments available to help slow down hair loss.

How is hair loss in women treated? What medicines or supplements may help?

There are many different medications and topical products that you can use to treat hair loss. There are also natural remedies that you can use to prevent further hair loss. Here are some of the most effective ways to treat hair loss:

1. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines for treating hair loss. It works by stimulating hair growth. A doctor might prescribe minoxidil for women if they suffer from severe hair loss.

2. Finasteride

Finasteride is a prescription medicine that prevents hair loss. It blocks DHT, which stops the production of new hairs. Finasteride is often used to treat male pattern hair loss.

3. Laser therapy

Laser therapy uses high-intensity light beams to stimulate hair regrowth. Lasers work best on patients who have already lost significant amounts of hair.

4. Propecia

Propecia is an over-the-counter pill that treats male pattern hair loss. It contains finasteride, which reduces the amount of testosterone in your bloodstream. Which causes hair loss in men.

5. Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto has been used to treat prostate problems for years. New research shows that it can also help reduce hair loss in men. Studies show that saw palmetto helps increase levels of certain hormones in the body that control hair growth.

6. Stem cell transplantation

Stem cell transplants involve removing stem cells from the patient’s own body and growing them in culture. After the cultured stem cells multiply, doctors inject them back into the patient where they differentiate into hair follicles. Doctors call this process regenerative hair replacement.

7. Vaccines

Vaccines trigger the immune system to produce antibodies that attack viruses and other foreign substances. Some scientists believe that using vaccines against human papillomavirus could prevent HPV-associated hair loss in people.

8. Vitamin B12 injections

Vitamin B12 injections are sometimes recommended for people who have hair loss due to pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia occurs when the stomach produces too little intrinsic factor, which leads to vitamin B12 deficiency. Intrinsic factor helps the body absorb vitamin B12. Without enough intrinsic factors, the body cannot absorb vitamin B12. This condition causes hair loss because vitamin B12 is needed to make healthy hair.

9. Zinc

Zinc is important for maintaining strong hair. Many studies show that zinc plays a role in preventing hair loss. Researchers continue to investigate how much zinc is required to maintain good hair health.

Conclusion

Hair loss is a common problem among both men and women. it may be caused by genetics or environmental factors. The first step toward treating it is talking with your doctor and identifying the cause. Once you know what’s causing your hair loss, you can decide whether laser treatment, medication, or surgery will be best for you.