Causes of hair fall in females

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hair follicles a day, some may lose up to 150 hair follicles on a daily basis. This is the normal amount of hair a healthy scalp can lose every day. However, there are certain factors that can cause you to shed more than usual. Hair loss is a very common condition and affects most people at some point in their lives. Hair goes through a lot of wear and tear every day due to pollution, sun exposure, hair styling, combing etc., these changes can at times be causative factors in hair loss. It is an assumption that thinning hair is a problem that affects older men and women only. Many women may notice thinning of hair starting in their 30s and 40s. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. The psychological damage with hair loss can be just as devastating as any other serious disease.

Hair Fall Causes:

Stress

Hair has a fix programmed cycle, including a growth, rest, and shedding, which can be disturbed due to any stressful event. If you have recently suffered any type of trauma, such as a severe illness, a car accident or a surgery, then this can trigger a type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium. This trauma can shock the hair cycle, leading more hair into the shedding phase. Hair will start growing back once your body recovers. Emotional stress like the death of a loved one, recent divorce or any other personal problems can also cause hair loss. Do regular exercise, yoga, and meditation to combat stress.

Hormones

Pregnancy can cause hair loss, but quite often, there may be a loss of hair after delivery or a few months later. There is nothing to worry about as it is quite normal and hair will grow back in a couple of months. The change in the hormonal balance that occurs at menopause may also cause hair loss. Intake of birth-control pills may also trigger this problem, talk to your doctor about other birth control types. Hormone levels are also affected by the thyroid gland, so thyroid ailments may also cause hair loss. Hair fall can also take place when a woman hits menopause as estrogen hormone levels are low in the body. It can make hair dry and also cause hair loss.

Anemia

One in 10 women suffers from anemia due to an iron deficiency, which can cause hair loss. Anemia is a result of low consumption of iron in one’s diet. It may take place due to inadequate folic acid in the body or heavy blood loss e.g during menstruation. Symptoms of anemia include cold hands and feet, pale skin, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. There is less production of hemoglobin due to anemia, which means less oxygen to your organs. When oxygen doesn't reach your hair follicles, they become weak and cause hair loss.

Diet

Our hair is made of a protein called keratin and there is a lack of protein in our body, it makes the hair brittle and cause hair loss. Eat lots of eggs, meat, and fish and if you don't eat meat, then you can opt for peas, quinoa, nuts, beans, and chickpeas etc. Excess intake of vitamin A can cause hair loss. Hair will grow back normally once you control the intake. Lack of vitamin B can also be another contributing factor in hair loss. Find vitamin B in non-citrus fruits, starchy vegetables, meat, and fish.

Heredity

This type of hair loss due to the hereditary condition is known as female-pattern baldness or male-pattern baldness. If you come from a family, where family members started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might be prone to it. Male pattern baldness takes place due to a combination of male sex hormones and genes. It begins as early as puberty. The problem usually starts at the front hairline, causing receding hairline. In women pattern baldness, women may have noticeable thinning of hair instead of receding hairline.

Medications

Some of the drugs used in chemotherapy can cause hair to fall out. However, your hair will grow back once chemotherapy is stopped. If you are taking supplements like anabolic steroids, then it can also trigger hair fall. It can also be caused by drugs used for high blood pressure, heart problems, depression, arthritis, and cancer. Women who are on birth control pills can suffer hair loss if they abruptly stop using them. Some other medications include anticoagulants, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and beta-blockers.

Disorders

A condition known as trichotillomania provoke people to have an urge to pull out their hair, whether it is from the body parts, eyebrows or the scalp. You may also experience permanent hair loss in the scarred areas due to diseases that cause scarring alopecia. Psoriasis also affects the hair follicles and scalp, causing hair loss. Alopecia aerate is a form of hair loss that occurs due to an autoimmune damage of hair follicles in localized parts of the skin. They attack hair as well, causing hair loss. Infections such as ringworm can affect the skin and hair on your scalp, which can cause scaly patches and lead to hair loss. Hair usually grows back once infections are cured.

Styling products

Hairstyles such as cornrows or pigtails pull your hair tight and can cause traction alopecia, which can lead to hair loss. Excessive use of hair styling products such as colors, sprays, mousse and gels, or hairstyling tools like curling iron or strengtheners can affect the growth of your hair.

Hair loss may be a sign of a more serious medical condition that needs an evaluation. So, visit your dermatologist to discuss your problems and possible treatment. With the correct diagnosis, many people with hair loss can be helped.