Female hair loss causes

Hair loss in women can betransient (synonyms = temporary / telogen effluvium / non-genetic) orpermanent (genetic / androgenetic alopecia). To determine whichcategory you fall under, please read this web page to learn more.

Before learning about female hair loss, one must understand the human hair growth cycle.

The average person loses 50-100 hairs a day. Hair loss only occurs when the number of shedding hairs exceeds the number of new hairs coming in. Normal hair growth is a three stage cycle:

[a] Anagen - Growth Phase Approximately 85% of all hairs arein the growing phase at any one time. The Anagen phase or growth phasecan vary from two to six years. Hair grows approximately 10 cm per yearand any individual hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter long.

[b] Catagen - Transitional phase At the end of theAnagen phase the hairs enters into a Catagen phase which lasts aboutone or two weeks, during the Catagen phase the hair follicle shrinks toabout 1/6 of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and thedermal papilla breaks away to rest below.

[c] Telogen - Resting Phase The resting phase followsthe catagen phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this timethe hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while thedermal papilla stays in a resting phase below.

Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase atan one time. At the end of the Telogen phase the hair folliclere-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla and the base of thefollicle join together again and a new hair begins to form. If the oldhair has not already been shed the new hair pushes the old one out andthe growth cycle starts all over again. Each hair passes through thephases independent of the neighboring hairs.

For men, 95-percent of male pattern hair loss can be attributedto genetic hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. In women, the cause andproper diagnosis is not as simple to determine and a physician shouldbe consulted. Thinning hairor hair loss in females can fall into two categories: Genetic andNon-Genetic. Genetic hair loss tends to be permanent while non-geneticis more often temporary. Both types of hair loss are treatable.

Genetic Hair Loss (androgenetic alopecia)

Nearly one-third of all women will experience some form ofandrogenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss). Alopecia in women isattribruted to three factors: aging, hormones, and genetics.

Most often, alopecia occurs (but is not limited to) in womenfollowing menopause as hormone levels in the body change. "Changes inthe levels of the androgens (a male hormone) can affect hairproduction. For example, after the hormonal changes of menopause, manywomen find that the hair on the head is thinned, while facial hair iscoarser." Genetics can also be a determining factor. Women with olderfemale family members who endured thinning of the hair are more likelythemselves to be subjected to androgenetic alopecia.

Women with alopecia do not lose their hair in the same fashionmen do. Usually, the frontal hair line remains, but the hair loss canbe noticed as a general thinning of the hair on the top and front ofthe head.

* thyroid or liver disease
* hepatic or renal failure
* anesthesia
* childbirth
* starting or stopping birth control pills
* very high fever
* severe stress
* anemia (sometimes seen in runners)
* hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
* essential fatty acid deficiency
* zinc-deficiency
* any condition that upsets the ovarian, adrenal, or pituitary axis
* protein deficiency ( common with vegetarian diets )
* anorexia or bulimia
* too much vitamin A
* local viral, fungal, or protozoan infection
* drug toxicity
* antimitotics  -  such as those used for chemotherapy
* bromocriptine  -  used to inhibit lactation
* beta blockers
* ACE inhibitors
* amphetamines
* anticholesterol agents
* systemic disease such as lupus/DLE

Non genetic causes of hair loss are easily treatable. Please consult a dermatologist.

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