5 Factors Causing Hair Loss In Women

Hair loss is a very common health concern among women. And while losing some amount of hair is completely normal, neglecting the excessive shedding might lead to long-term issues.

In some cases, the minor hair loss eventually turns into balding over time if neglected for a brief period. The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to keep a check on your daily hair shedding.

If everything looks normal and the hair fall is the same, then it’s nothing to worry about, but if you see more hair than usual in your brush or the shower drain, then it’s a clear sign that your hair is falling out more than it should.

Losing up to 100 strands a day is normal and healthy, anything above that is a matter of concern. However, figuring out what is causing hair loss is a tricky thing.

There are a lot of reasons why women start losing hair. Sometimes it’s due to temporary reasons such as stress, constant styling, and heating, etc. But in some cases, it can be due to genetics or childbirth.

However, the good news is that if it is noticed early on, it can be managed and, in some cases, even reversed. If you’ve recently noticed your hair falling and thinning and are not sure why. Here are some of the most common reasons why women lose hair.

Due To Genetics

People presume that hereditary baldness can only happen to men. While the male pattern baldness is quite common in men. Women are also susceptible to genetic hair loss.

While men suffer baldness along the hairline, female hereditary baldness is usually seen at the crown of the head.

This type of hair loss can’t be entirely prevented or treated; some medications can help to slow it down. You can use minoxidil or finasteride. These medications help to keep your scalp full and healthy.

Please note that these medications are general suggestions, you’d need to consult with a dermatologist about viable treatment options curated for your type of pattern baldness.

After Childbirth

During pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of hormonal surges and changes. During normal days, hair growth has a slow and steady pattern.

First, there is a growth phase, where your hair naturally grows, and then it goes into a transitional phase. This is the phase where the hair growth stops but it doesn’t fall out.

Then comes the resting phase. After which the hair strands detach from the scalp and fall.

During childbirth, this steady growth cycle is kicked into high gear and the hair grows in ultra-speed mode. The whole 9 months your skin will clear out, hair will grow long and thick, you’ll grow healthier nails, etc. And you’ll only lose about 10-15 strands per day.

Once the baby is born and the estrogen levels are back to normal, the hair goes back into the normal growth cycle. This sudden change is what causes postpartum hair loss.

For some women, this may last for up to 4 months. But in some rare cases, the shedding can continue for 12 months. Women who have a genetic hair fall issue may suffer from baldness post-childbirth.

And with each pregnancy, the situation might worsen. This type of postpartum hair loss is known as telogen effluvium.

But this is a temporary phase, so you don’t need to panic if you see a bunch of hair strands falling out. You can use some simple ways and products to minimize hair fall in this situation.

Excessive Medications

Medications used for chronic illnesses can also cause chronic shedding. Typically, in cases of high doses of medications for treating cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure, and also depression.

These symptoms are quite easy to catch. Just keep track of how your body is responding to the pills, and if the hair falls out more than usual, it’s definitely due to the new tablets.

Consult with your doctor on such matters and they might prescribe a different dose or a different company to avoid this side effect.

Dandruff & Scalp Psoriasis

With dandruff, the scalp gets very itchy and inflamed. The constant scratching is tempting and is the reason why hair sheds out more.

However, dandruff can be very easily treated with just a few home remedies. You don’t necessarily need fancy hair packs or pills to counter the effects.

Sometimes, just simply switching the shampoo can have a positive effect on your hair health. Although if you’re suffering from seborrhea dermatitis, which is like a severe version of regular dandruff.

In this case, you’ll notice big patchy flakes of dandruff on your scalp. This is generally caused by a buildup of oil and yeast on the scalp. You can’t fix this type of dandruff with organic hair packs. Consider visiting a dermatologist to address the issue more clearly for better options of treatment.

Scalp Psoriasis is a condition where long and thick patches of skin form on the hair scalp. Which again is not as easy to get rid of as normal dandruff.

Excessive Styling, Heating & Over Processing of Hair

Excessive use of chemicals and heat can cause trichorrhexis nodosa. It is a condition where the hair shafts become so weak that they start to break just by brushing.

In this case, it doesn’t necessarily fall from the root but rather can break from anywhere on the shaft.

Similar to wearing too many hairstyles with excessive hair sprays and clips, which can lead to traction alopecia. In this situation, you will notice hair thinning from the hairline and is very damageable for hair follicles.

If not stopped or treated, the scarring might become permanent.

Tips To Prevent Hair Loss

  • Wash your hair only when necessary, and not every day.
  • Use a good quality shampoo that is paraben-free.
  • Make sure to use volumizing conditioners.
  • Consider using leave-in conditioners.
  • Use an organic homemade hair mask, once every week.
  • Oil your hair regularly and follow the hot towel method to smoothen the hair shafts.
  • When styling, make sure to keep the use of hair sprays and gels to a minimum.
  • Avoid heat and blow-drying as much as possible.