Reasons for female hair loss

Reasons for female hair loss

Lady Godiva to Break Girl, Farah Fawcett to Jennifer Aniston, there is no doubt that, at least for women, hair is often a critical point in personal style. This is one reason why so many women in a state of panic even the thought of the loss of hairs in vain with every shampoo.
These fears are not unfounded, as in every year more women are forced to deal with the possibility of exposure to massive loss of hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is a growing problem, which affects about 30 million women in the United States - with some types of loss that occurs at an early age, seen in growing numbers.
"I saw women in the age of 15 or 16 develop hair loss problems - it's not common, but it's also not that rare," says Ted Daly, MD, a dermatologist from Nassau University Medical Center in Long Island, who specializes in treatment of female hair loss.
But what exactly causes a woman to lose her hair? To understand this, it is important to know a little something about how to grow hair.
Stunted growth cycle
Experts tell us that Tris usually grow at a rate of about half an inch per month - with all the hair growth after a period of two to six years. At that point in the hair "rests" for a period of time, and then out - and the pouch that comes soon starts growing a new strand. And so the cycle continues, usually Snoatna as well as in adults.
In some people, but - those with a genetic predisposition for hair loss - a group of hormones called androgens interfere with this natural process. According to dermatologist Michael Reed, managing director, and androgens hormones, including testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - all made in the men's bodies in large quantities, and women's bodies in small quantities.
In those who are genetically susceptible, when testosterone comes into contact with enzymes residing in the hair cell, it is converted to a more powerful androgen DHT, which then connects with receptors deep within the hair follicle.
"Over time, the accumulation of a surplus [of DHT] in the follicle causes it to begin shrinking, which in turn changes the resting stages of the natural hair growth," says Reed, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at the University Medical Center, New York, which specializes in female hair loss. Some of the follicles eventually die, while others have become unable to produce or maintain the growth of healthy hair. The end result, "says Reid, is the loss of hair - and a condition known medically that androgenic alopecia.
For many decades, doctors believed that androgenic alopecia was the main cause of baldness in men and women together. Today they know this is not true - at least with regard to women.
Female and male Balding is not the same pattern
"We do not even like to use the term 'androgenic alopecia' in women anymore - instead, call it female pattern hair loss - a broader term that includes many of the possible causes, some of which are likely to be directly linked to the excess of the hormone testosterone, and some are not, "says Daly WebMD.
In fact, says that although the science of female balding is still largely misunderstood, and there is evidence that many other types of enzymes, as well as hormone-receptor blockers, may be at work in women.
Which indicates that there is a real difference between male baldness and female pattern that occurs is the hair loss.
"Female pattern baldness goes around the entire top of the head - is widespread - while men lose it on the temple, the crown, the bald spot in the back," says Daly. It is no coincidence, the location of hormone receptors and enzymes are also different in different regions of the scalp - another reason doctors now believe that the patterns of losses caused by different predisposing factors.
Another important difference: While the baldness in men is almost always a result of genetic predisposition coupled with age, and women, can occur at any time. In addition, it can be the underlying medical conditions also be the cause of hair loss - even when true androgenic alopecia is the diagnosis.
Medical reasons in
"Often these women are also suffering with polycystic ovary syndrome, [common hormonal problem in women], and sometimes hair loss is a trademark, the only clear," says Ricardo Azziz, MD, director of the Center for the androgen-related disorders at the Center Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In addition, Daly reports that certain types of autoimmune diseases result in a slightly different and often less dramatic hair loss problem known as alopecia areata - an inflammatory condition that causes hair to come out in clumps or patches.
Still others can provide a solution to the problem of temporary hair loss, known as telogen effluvium - a change in the natural order for hair growth that often follows childbirth, crash dieting, surgery, or emotional traumatic event.
Azizz adds that the thyroid disorders, anemia, chronic illness, or even the use of certain medications can also cause hair loss in women, which are often undiagnosed.
For these reasons, specialists say it is vital for all women to obtain "root" of hair loss before seeking treatment.
"The number (1) base for the treatment of hair loss in women is to get the correct diagnosis - if there is a problem inherent material must be corrected first," says Reid. In many cases, he says, can prevent the need for further treatment of hair loss. As such, he advises women to see a doctor who specializes in female pattern baldness and make sure that the verification of possible underlying medical conditions via blood tests, or if necessary, biopsy of the scalp.
"Often the diagnosis is made by excluding what the problem is not there - but it is still necessary to do a full workup," says Daly.