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While hair loss is considered a normal part of aging for men, hair loss in women is much less common. Thus, hair loss in women is much more detrimental to a woman's self image than it is for a man. Women with thinning hair are often ridiculed and may find it difficult to be seen in social situations. But what makes male and female hair loss so different?
The truth is that there are not many differences in the way the hair is lost or why. While it is true that fewer women are susceptible to genetic hair loss, a small group of women do still experience this disease. This type of hair loss may cause complete baldness and is not temporary. It is a popular misconception that these women are somehow genetically or hormonally more masculine than other women. While this has caused many women shame and ridicule, this is a complete myth. There has yet to be any proof that these women are genetically or hormonally more masculine than any other woman.
Hormonal hair loss also occurs in women. Nevertheless, hormonal hair loss in women is usually temporary, as a woman will experience re-growth once the hormones return to normal. This type of hair loss in women is likely to occur after the birth of a child, during menopause, during pregnancy or even as early as puberty.
If you or someone you know as experience hair loss after the birth of a child, the experience I usually temporary. This type of hair loss occurs when extreme fluctuations in hormones take place. During this time a woman's estrogen levels are likely to either be to too high or too low. If the level happens to be particularly low, it leaves the woman more susceptible to an imbalance. The testosterone in her body may trigger the same hormonal hair loss it does in men. Luckily for the woman, this usually only last a few months before hair begins to grow again. A woman may also experience hormonal hair loss if she has a thyroid problem, but even this is temporary, as the hair will return when the thyroid is treated.
Hair loss due to medication is a greater risk for females than males, because breast cancer in women is the most common kind of cancer. Like most cancers, breast cancer often requires treatment in the form of chemotherapy. Women are also at a greater risk of having thyroid disease which often requires radio active treatment. This too causes the hair to fall out. Many of these treatments will cause complete baldness. Luckily, this type of hair loss is also temporary and may subside when the medication is stopped.
Since most forms of female hair loss are temporary, over the counter treatments may be used to prevent too much hair from being lost during these periods. However, genetic hair loss is still a real threat even for women. For this reason anyone experiencing thinning hair should see a doctor and consider treatment.
Women's pattern of hair loss is different to the typical receding hairline and crown loss in men. Female hair loss is limited to thinning at the front, the sides of the head and the crown. The most important factor in successfully treating any kind of hair loss is to determine quickly the correct cause of the hair loss and then immediately begin with the appropriate treatment. A common reason for mild hair loss is the lack of iron in the diet. Iron supplements may be useful if hair loss is caused by anemia or an inadequate intake of dietary iron. The best and simplest way to prevent hair loss is by eating a healthy diet.
Aside from blaming one's genes as a reason for thinning hair, major hair loss causes generally include stress, medication, pregnancy, strong hair chemicals and hormones. When people are suffering from hair loss, the genes and hormones in their body produce a shrinking effect on the hair follicles, causing them to become incapable of growing new hair. When a woman changes her hormone levels through using artificial hormones like birth control or hormone replacement therapy, it can have a big impact on her hair loss. Since hormones fluctuate with age and with condition, hair thinning in women can be a temporary or gradual condition.
There is much scientific evidence that supports the role of DHT in the gradual thinning and miniaturization of hair follicles in approximately 85% of all reported cases of female hair loss. Female hair loss, thinning hair or baldness is emotionally traumatic for women. Thinning in women can be even more devastating, as it is often less socially acceptable and sometimes interpreted as a sign of advanced aging, illness and a loss of femininity. If you are suffering from thinning hair there is a way to stop your hair loss without any surgery or even side effects.
Every day, women worldwide look in the mirror, and where they used to see healthy hair, they now see an increasing proportion of scalp. Like a beautiful face enhances a person's confidence so does a scalp of healthy and lovely hair. Both diet and nutritional supplementation can provide a positive influence on hair growth and hair health, as deficiencies of specific nutrients can actually promote a loss of hair. Vitamins B6 and biotin are also thought to advocate healthy hair growth, as are the minerals zinc, copper, and silica. Beautiful, healthy and nourished hair can instantly enhance a person's attractiveness, especially in women.
Hair loss is a very common problem that affects both men and women, from all parts of the world. Scientists are still trying to discover the exact mechanisms, or genetic blueprints, that influence hair loss as a whole; but most agree that hair loss is polygenic, or is caused by several genes rather than one specific genome. Regardless, the earlier an effective treatment option for hair loss is implemented, the better chance you'll have of saving hair that has not yet been affected. This is understandable since hair loss is normally a gradual process. Fortunately hair loss is usually reversible with proper treatment.