Causes of Female Hair Loss Effect of Hair Loss to Women

Women Health Issues THINGS THAT ALL WOMEN SHOULD KNOW

What is Women

Hair Transplant?

Is there really a difference between the hair

losses that occurs in men from that in women?

Yes there are certain differences in how the

condition progresses in both sexes and it

displays itself in characteristics unique to each

gender.

Androgenetic alopecia is classified into two and

this are named accordingly as Hair Patterned

Baldness in men and Hair Patterned Baldness in

women. They are differentiated as such because

they have specific causes, presentations and

treatments.

One of the most evident differences in hair

pattern baldness between men and women is

that, the hair loss in males is concentrated on the

front. This can be initially noticed by a receding

hairline which in some instances halts at the

crown and forms an "M", or it could progress

into total baldness. Some may lose it near their

temples or a bald spot is formed around the

crown.

For the women, they keep their hairline but there

is apparent thinning near the crown of the head.

What Is the Difference Between Hair Pattern Baldness in Men and Women?

It can also be more evident near the line where

they divide their hair, but a significant and

alarming increase of hairs uprooted while

combing is also a common characteristic.

There are also differences in causes for both

sexes. Common causes for men are old age,

smoking, over production of DHT

(dihydroxytestosterone), lack of sleep, diabetes,

high blood pressure and genetics.

The women's hair patterned baldness can be

attributed to menopause, lack of vitamins and

minerals, low immunity, stress, skin disorders

and decreased thyroid hormone levels. Women

also experience a temporary hair loss and

thinning during pregnancy triggered by hormonal

changes.

Psychological effects also vary between men and

women. It is highly stressful for women to deal

with this condition than in men, because society

commonly dictates that women wear long and

thick locks. Most women define their beauty on

how they arrange and care for their hair.

Image source: http://hair-loss-prevention.info

It is highly stressful for women to deal with this condition than in men, because society commonly

dictates that women wear long and thick locks.

The social stigma of balding also has a

significant amount of psychological blow in

men. The common perception that baldness is

equated to aging can create an emotional stir in

men. Those who are affected by the condition in

their early 20's would be more affected

especially when applying for a job or in dating.

Hair loss presents itself and creates a stress

unique for both male and female. Treatments are

also available and can cater to the specific needs

of both sexes. Women can take hormone

replacement therapy, if the cause is hormonal.

They can wear wigs or weaves to cover up the

thinning areas.

Topical and oral medications are also available;

however in the case with men where genetics is

a big player for the condition, some would opt

for a good hair transplant. Follicular Unit

Transplantation (FUT) is a common and highly

effective method in growing hairs back

permanently. But the easiest way for men to

cover up their baldness is through the use of

toupees.

There are differences of how the condition

manifests itself for both males and females.

These classifications are important because it

can help in deciding the kind of treatment

necessary

6 Causes of

Hair Loss in

Women

Hair loss is one of those conditions that pose a

serious threat to the self-image of every person

affected by it. But this problem is much harder

in women since society dictates that long and

bouncy locks is what is considered to be

beautiful. Hair loss in women is caused by

various factors from biological to environmental

reasons, so let’s look at each closely to

understand this phenomenon better.

Stress

Stress is something that is inevitable and every

day they come in all forms and gravity. But

when stress becomes too much to handle or

becomes chronic, this is when it affects the

body, in some women it affects the hair. This

type of hair loss is more aptly known as Telogen

Effluvium, and those women who have highly

demanding jobs, or those juggling with a busy

lifestyle are more prone to this condition. The

best answer for this kind of hair loss is to find a

way to manage the stressor, because if it remains

to be in one’s life, it is less likely that hair loss

will be resolved.

Thyroid Problems

When a woman experiences thyroid problems,

specifically an underactive one

(hypothyroidism), it is expected that she loses a

good amount of hair. A decrease in thyroid

hormones affects the delivery of oxygen and

nutrients that enables your hair, nails and skin to

grow. There are medications that can help

restore a healthy thyroid function, and in effect

answers hair loss problems.

Medications

It is expected that medications have accompanying

side effects, and one of these is hair loss.

Chemotherapeutic agents, antidepressants,

cardiovascular drugs and antiarthritic medications

can sometimes cause hair to fall excessively. Even

hair loss medications themselves can have hair loss

as one of its adverse reactions. So to avoid this

from happening discuss this with your doctor so he

can instruct you on proper intake or prescribe you

with an alternative.

Low Iron

Iron is one mineral that can be easily depleted in a

woman’s system. This is because women lose it

substantial amounts during their monthly period,

since iron is a major component of blood. Iron

stores are also used up when under stress or there

is a lack of it in the diet. A doctor can order you

for a blood check-up such as a complete blood

count or a hemoglobin test to check for low iron

stores. You can take iron supplements or increase

your intake of dark green and leafy vegetables,

legumes, and protein.

Poor Hair Care

Women like to style, color, or put their hair into all

kinds of treatment. Over time this can take a toll

on those locks which eventually can cause them to

brittle, dry out and eventually fall. Chemicals and

even the way you tie your hair can also lead to hair

loss. To avoid this, modify the way you style your

hair and maybe cut back on the chemicals that you

slather, let your hair breathe for some time.

Genetics

Sometimes in unfortunate circumstances women

are affected by hair loss genes which they acquire

from either their mother or father’s side. This

condition is what is called androgenetic alopecia.

As much as this condition sounds fancy, it is a

nightmare because this will be displayed by

thinning on the hair line and most of the time it

occurs over the entire head. Medications and hair

pieces can be used to treat or conceal the problem.

TYPE OF HAIR

LOSS

Alopecia areata

Telogen effluvium

Androgenetic alopecia

Psychological Effects of Hair

Loss in Women

As psychologically stressful as hair loss is for a

man, it is likely to be even more so for a woman. A

number of scientific studies have shown that

women are more likely than men to suffer

psychologically painful effects due to hair loss, and

that the psychological effects are likely to be more

severe in women than in men.

Reasons for this difference have been documented

in studies of women and men with hair loss who

responded to validated questionnaires designed and

administered by psychologists and physician

investigators:

Women more than men have a significant

psychological investment in their appearance, and

are likely to react more negatively to events such as

hair loss that they regard as changing their

appearance for the worse.

Women are highly sensitive to a social expectation

that "a woman’s hair is her crowning glory". When

she perceives that hair loss detracts from the

appearance of her "crowning glory" a woman is

likely to experience a loss of self-esteem.

Women who have hair loss often perceive that it is

not taken seriously by family and friends. Women

have less of a support system for hair loss than is

available to men. Family and friends may

commiserate with a man about hair loss and even

help him find humor in it. Hair loss (balding) in

typical male-pattern alopecia is an event that is

accepted as "normal" in men. Hair loss in women is

not widely regarded as "normal" even though it

occurs normally in both sexes. The typically diffuse

pattern of hair loss in women is not as well

recognized as typical male-pattern baldness. The

psychological effect of hair loss in women is under-

appreciated, perhaps due in large measure to lack of

public awareness of hair loss in women.

Source: INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF HAIR RESTORATION

SURGERY

The response of women to investigators questions

show that women are often devastated by loss of

hair in any degree from slight to severe:

"I think about my hair loss all the time."

"I wish I had more hair."

"I worry about losing even more hair."

"I feel frustrated and helpless about my hair loss."

"I feel self-conscious about my looks due to hair

loss."

"I worry about how my hair loss will affect my

career/marriage/dating/sexual activity."

"I worry that I am unattractive."

Men can often cope with hair loss better than

women. Women are more likely than men to:

• Try to hide hair loss

• Discuss hair loss with a hair stylist

• Try to develop a hair style that disguises hair loss

• Spend more time on other aspects of physical

appearance to divert attention from hair loss

Even slight hair loss may be psychologically

unsettling for a woman. With whom should she

discuss her concern?

Consultation with a board-certified dermatologist

may be the most effective way to (1) discover the

cause of hair loss, (2) learn the treatment options

that are available based on the diagnosis of the

cause of hair loss, (3) weigh treatment options

based on discussion of procedures, costs and any

other concerns, and (4) undertake a treatment

program agreed upon after full discussion. After

consultation with a dermatologist, a woman with

hair loss might then choose to meet with a physician

hair restoration specialist to determine if she is a

candidate for surgical hair restoration. Often the

combination of surgical hair restoration and medical

treatments provides the most satisfying result.

Unless a woman mentions it as a concern, hair loss

may not be discussed by a woman’s personal

internist or gynecologist as part of a regularly

scheduled physical examination. Thinning hair

may be regarded as a "normal" phenomenon

associated with conditions such as pregnancy or

aging.

However, a woman’s hair loss should never be

overlooked, disregarded or underestimated. Hair

loss should be recognized for the impact it has on

a woman’s self-esteem and psychological well-

being.

The cause of hair loss should be investigated with

appropriate physical examination and laboratory

tests until a diagnosis is confirmed. No treatment

of hair loss should be undertaken until a diagnosis

is made. Hair loss due to the most common causes,

such as hereditary female-pattern alopecia, can be

often effectively treated with hair transplantation

or with minoxidil, the only hair restoration

medication available to treat women with hair loss.

Other causes may require the care of a qualified

dermatologist who has special knowledge of hair

loss diseases such as alopecia areata or lichen

planopilaris. In some cases an underlying cause

such as hypothyroidism must be treated as part of

overall effective treatment. Fortunately, most cases

of female pattern hair loss may be treated with a

combination of minoxidil and surgery.

A number of scientific studies have shown that women are more likely than men to suffer

psychologically painful effects due to hair loss, and that the psychological effects are likely to be

more severe in women than in men.

Women’s Hair

Loss and Hair

Restoration Since hair restoration surgery is a good option for

nearly 90% of the balding men in the country,

women think they will also make good

candidates, but this is usually not the case.

Very few women have the type of hair loss that

makes them good candidates. Most women have

diffuse hair loss instead, an overall thinning in all

areas of the head, including the sides and back,

which are the areas that act as donor sites in men.

It is from these sites that the hair is removed for

hair transplantation to other areas of the head.

In men, the donor sites are called stable sites,

which means that the hair and follicles in those

areas are not affected by the dihydrotestosterone

(DHT) that shrinks follicles elsewhere on the

head. This is the situation in those with

androgenetic alopecia, or what's commonly

called male pattern baldness.

In female pattern baldness, however, these donor

areas are usually unstable. They are thinning, just

like the other areas of the head. The donor areas

in women are affected by follicle-killing DHT.

That means that if you remove hair and

accompanying follicles from these donor areas in

women and transplants them to other areas; it's

just going to fall out. Any doctor who would

attempt to transplant hair from an unstable donor

site is potentially unethical and may just be trying

to take economic advantage of the patient.

Which Women Are

Good Candidates for

Hair Transplant?

According to experts a very small percentage of

women are candidates for hair transplant surgery.

About 2% to 5% of women with hair loss will benefit

from this type of procedure. They are:

Women who have suffered hair loss due to

mechanical or traction alopecia (nonhormonal).

Women who have had previous cosmetic or

plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss

around the incision sites.

Women who have a distinct pattern of baldness,

similar to that of male pattern baldness. This

includes hairline recession, vertex thinning (on

the crown or top of the scalp), and a donor area

that is not affected by androgenetic alopecia.

Women who suffer hair loss due to trauma,

including burn victims, scarring from accidents,

and chemical burns.

Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition that

looks very similar to traction alopecia.

ABOUT US

The Australian Institute for Hair

Restoration (AIHR) continues to strive for

quality service as they put importance on

close communication with their patients.

The success of the company has been led

by the renowned hair transplant surgeon,

Dr. Andrew Kim along with his team of

highly trained and experienced hair

technicians. They underline the

importance of a clear and precise

discussion of what the patient wants and

needs to come up with a common idea of

the desired outcome. They operate in

various locations in Australia including

Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.

Specialties

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Technique, Eyebrow Hair Transplant