Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in females. It begins with noticeably hair thinning especially at the top and side areas of the scalp. An estimated one-third of susceptible females suffer from female alopecia or female-patterned baldness. This type of hair loss occurs usually when women are in their postmenopausal stages but there are unfortunate instances when they take place at puberty stage.
With female alopecia, the only time you should start worrying is when hair shedding has exceeded 125 hair strands per day or when your body stops reproducing hair strands to replace what has fallen out. With regard to genetics, loss of hair in females may come from either parent.
Anagen Effluvium and Telogen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium refers to the type of female hair loss wherein hair strands haven't yet reached the final stage of their life cycle. Nevertheless, certain agents, usually medications that are administered internally, poison and eventually cause the death of still-growing hair follicles.
Telogen effluvium, on the other hand, refers to the type of female hair loss wherein there are more hair strands reaching the telogen stage than what's usual. Telogen effluvium may be caused by a number of things:
Stress
Stress is not only caused by psychological factors. It may be caused by an unnatural physical condition as well such as having just undergone surgery and experiencing the changes it wrought on your body. Stress can also be a symptom of crash dieting, anemia, and various kinds of illnesses.
Of course, emotional and psychological factors inducing stress can also lead to excessive loss of hair. Grieving over the death of a loved one or experiencing a mental illness can both make the problem worse.
Medications
There are a number of medications and treatments that may require the individual to lose their hair albeit only temporarily. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, medications for your condition may also be a cause and medications for gout also have the same symptom. Lastly, take extra care with medications containing great quantities of Vitamin A as these can also induce hair loss.
Hormones
Women who are undergoing menopause - or experiencing pre-menopausal or postmenopausal symptoms - as well as those who are taking birth control measures and are pregnant are all vulnerable to hair loss. This is due to the hormonal changes or abnormalities their bodies are being subjected to.
Of course, once the underlying cause of telogen effluvium is addressed and effectively resolved then hair will generally start to return to normal.
Frequent Shampooing as a Mythical Cause for Hair Loss in Females
Although harsher or stronger chemicals in shampoo products are sometimes blamed for loss of hair, frequency of shampooing is generally not a problem and cannot cause hair loss. Shampoos may loosen up some of your hair strands and cause you to shed more than usual, but affected hair strands are those already in the telogen stage and would have fallen out eventually. Either way, they will still be replaced by your body.
Although it is not as common as after birth, hair loss in pregnancy does happen to many women. Many of the prevention and treatment methods that can be applied to hair loss following pregnancy can be used during pregnancy as well. There are just a couple of precautionary measures you will need to take during pregnancy.
When hair loss is occurring after you have given birth, it is almost expected as almost 50% of pregnant women begin to lose hair. During pregnancy hair loss is not quite as common, which is why precautionary measures should be taken. It is vital that you do seek advice from your physician to make sure everything is alright with you and the baby.
Aside from the precautionary measures that should be taken, many of the prevention methods are similar to those you would take following giving birth. If you are experiencing hair loss in pregnancy, it may be a sign that you are not getting enough vitamins and minerals. It is important that you supply your body and the baby's body with vitamins and minerals while you are carrying the baby.
Some of the most crucial vitamins include Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Including a high amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet will supply you with many of these vitamins and minerals needed to maintain your health and prevent hair loss. You should also be taking a daily vitamin of some sort every morning.
While you do not always have complete control over hair loss and your body during pregnancy, taking care of your hair can help reduce the chances of you losing hair. Certain hairstyles should not be worn during pregnancy because of the stress it puts on your hair. Some of these hairstyles include braids, cornrows, and pigtails. You should also try avoiding getting perms and getting your hair colored.
The kinds of shampoos, conditioners and styling aids used during pregnancy can also affect whether or not you lose hair and how much you lose. There are specific brands that are better than others, which you should ask a physician about. But it is recommended that you use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica.
While it is not near as common to see hair loss in pregnancy as it is after, it still occurs very often. The first step is to take precautionary measures and seek medical advice. From there, supplying your body with vitamins and taking care of your hair can help you prevent hair loss in pregnancy.
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