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Female
Pattern Hair Loss
The
most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic
alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia or baldness.
This is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top
and sides of the head. It affects approximately 30 million
women in the US alone, but is most commonly seen after menopause,
although it may begin as early as 20s.
Normal hair fall is approximately 80-100 hairs per day.
Fortunately, these hairs are replaced. True hair loss occurs
when lost hairs are not re-grown or when the daily hair shed
exceeds 100 hairs. Genetically, hair loss can come from
either side of the family.
Women generally experience thinning hair over the top of
the head or crown, while most often maintaining a frontal
hairline.
Signs
and Symptoms:
- General
thinning of hair all over the head
- Moderate loss of hair on the crown or at hairline
There
are two different types of hair loss, medically known as
anagen effluvium and Telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium
is generally due to internally administered medications,
such as chemotherapy agents, which stop the growth hair
follicle.
Telogen effluvium, is due to an increased number of hair
follicles entering the resting stage, which prevents the
hair follicles from fulfilling their regular growth process.
Hair follicles gradually become smaller and the hair growth
is slowing down. Therefore hair becomes shorter, thinner,
sometimes even colorless.
The
most common causes of telogen effluvium are:
Physical stress: surgery, illness, anemia, rapid weight
change.
Emotional stress: mental illness, death of a family member.
Thyroid abnormalities.
Medications: High doses of Vitamin A --Blood pressure medications-
- Gout medications.
Hormonal causes: pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause.
Diet Stimulates Excessive Sebum on the scalp – Having
too much red meat, fried or oily food would stimulate sebum
secretion all over the scalp. Excessive sebum causes pore
clogging and malnutrition of the hair follicles.
When the above causes of telogen effluvium are reversed
or altered you should see the return of normal hair growth.
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