What causes female hair loss
Is your part wider than it used to be? Scalp looking a little "bare"? Jokes with your guy friends about their chrome domes suddenly a lot less funny?
Women can start shedding hair at many times and for many reasons -- after giving birth, after traumatic medical events like chemotherapy, or because of a lack of iron. But one of the most common causes of hair loss for women is androgenetic alopecia -- sometimes called alopecia androgenetica, or simply: female pattern hair loss.
Here are the 10 things you should know about female hair loss:
1. You're not alone!
A 2004 Australian study of 5,000 men and women found mild hair loss in about 22 per cent of women by age 45, with hair loss increasingly prevalent as women get older. Female pattern hair loss is similar to men's, except that women's hair tends to thin out all over the top and sides of the head, rather than a receding hairline. It's rare for women to get a bald spot on top.
2. Female pattern hair loss warrants medical attention
The first stop on your mission to save your hair: your doctor's office. "If your hair loss is not explainable or if the GP doesn't know [what's causing it], a dermatologist could be helpful," says Dr. Eileen Murray, a Vancouver dermatologist and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia's dermatology and skin centre.
3. Female hair loss causes
A chemical called DHT, dihydrotestosterone, produced from an excess of androgen is a cause of androgenetic alopecia. This can be an indicator of serious illnesses like polycystic ovarian disease or adrenal gland syndrome, so don't dismiss your hair loss as merely a cosmetic problem. "It's really a sign of an abnormality," says Dr. Murray. Genetics and age may also play a role in hair loss.
4. Hair loss prevention
For healthy hair, eat well, get enough iron, protein, and a wide variety of nutrients. "The commonest cause of hair loss is poor diet," says Dr. Murray. Want more health tips? Try stress reduction -- it turns out, worrying really can make your hair fall out.
5. Female hair loss treatments
Getting your hair back once it's gone isn't so easy. For a cure, women can try the drug many men use: Minoxidil (you might know it as Rogaine). Though it doesn't work on everyone, and it only works as long as you're using it. Furthermore, Dr. Murray warns: "It's not as effective in women."
Click to continue for 5 more facts on female pattern hair loss, including how your hair stylist can help...
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