When it comes to hair loss the conversation is usually geared towards men. We often hear about male pattern baldness and lots of men we know worry about it not stop. But hair loss is not something that’s unique to men. One in three women will experience some sort of hair loss problem in her lifetime. And honestly, as women, we have much more reasons for hair loss than men do. We do much more to our hair that might cause it to fall out, our hormones get out of whack more and there are various deficiencies and diseases that have a great effect on the state of our hair. So let’s talk about what causes hair loss in women and what can we do to fix it.
Hair Loss Treatment
Let’s start talking about how to stop hair loss or even better, how to prevent hair loss in the first place. First and foremost it’s important to recognize that there’s no overnight hair loss cure, but there are things you can do. Eating a healthy and balanced diet will ensure that your body and therefore your hair get all the micronutrients it needs to grow long and luscious. Managing stress is another key thing for stopping hair loss. And finally, if you have certain dietary preferences or restrictions – consider taking supplements and vitamins for hair loss prevention. If you take a holistic approach to health you’re bound to see results.
Now let’s discuss the most common hair loss causes:
Stress
Stress is the cause of many problems and if it doesn’t cause them it exacerbates them further. Out of all the hair loss causes this one is probably the most common and yet the most difficult one to fix. Stress can make your hair literally fall out, it can also cause your scalp to be extra dry, which in turn will make your hair more brittle, which will cause it to break off. Stress also often impacts our eating habits which directly impact the state of our hair.
Weight loss
Speaking of eating habits, when you lose weight quickly – your hair will inevitably suffer. Crash diets are the worst because you suddenly change not only the amount of calories you consume but also deprive your body of many essential micronutrients that are important for healthy hair. And since our body views our hair as non-essential, you will see dramatic hair loss with any dramatic weight loss.
Hormonal
Whether we like it or not hormones rule our body and when they’re thrown out of whack they can cause a plethora of problems. We know that hormonal imbalances can cause mood swings, weight gain and acne, but did you know that it can also cause your hair to fall out? Yup, hormonal imbalance can cause the hair follicles to shrink up and cause thinning hair that can eventually lead to hair loss.
Iron Deficiency
Iron is very important in producing hair proteins, so when you don’t have enough iron in your system – your hair suffers. While you could take iron supplements it’s always better to get iron from iron-rich foods like beans, green leafy veggies, seeds and nuts and grains. Dark chocolate is also a good source of iron, so do indulge on occasion, it’s good for your hair.
B12 Deficiency
You hear about B12 deficiency making people feel all tired, lethargic and like they never have any energy, but it can also cause hair loss. Not having enough B12 impacts the health of your red blood cells, and they’re the ones that carry oxygen to your tissues.
Thyroid Gland Problems
The thyroid gland is very important since it takes part in controlling our metabolism and the production of proteins. Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism are imbalances in the thyroid gland function and neither is good for your hair or the rest of your body for that matter.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss that comes from pulling your hair too much to the point where it becomes weak over time and just snaps off. It’s common among people who wear their hair in a tight ponytail or tights braids that put a strain on your hair follicles at the root.