Exploring the Causes of Hair Loss in Women

A man losing their hair is devastating enough, though it is a cultural “norm” to see a bald man. What is not the “norm” is seeing a bald woman walking on the streets. Sadly, it seems that in this age women are experiencing hair loss more than ever, so it is important to explore the causes of hair loss in women.

Sadly, it seems that in this age women are experiencing hair loss more than ever, so it is important to explore the causes of hair loss in women to really understand why this may be happening to you, and what the solutions may be.

Hair for women is a definitive feature. It is far more important to women than men. When any woman loses what she feels is “more hair than usual” she will usually go into a mild panic. That is why more than 30 million women in the United States alone this year will be seeking solutions to their female hair loss.

The Hair Growth Cycle

Though we all experience different hair growth rates, women generally hair their hair grow at ½ inch each month. The hair, once it starts the hair growth cycle, will grow for 2- 6 years before having what is referred to as a ‘resting period’. After this resting period, the hair will fall out and the hair follicle will begin to grow a new strand of hair.

How Genetics Cause Hair Loss

Androgens, a group of hormones commonly associated with men (though women have androgens too, just in lesser numbers) is usually to blame for hair loss in men, and sometimes women. Androgens is a name for a group of hormones that includes androsteinedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (also referred to as DHT).

If testosterone comes in contact with any enzymes that are within the hair cell, it then binds forces with the enzymes and becomes the hair-disruptive hormone DHT. The DHT hormone will actually build up on top of the hair follicle, which in turn causes the hair follicle to shrink away and eventually stop producing hair all together. Sometimes hair follicles even die and cease to exist, meaning that there is no longer any opportunity for hair to grow in that hair follicle, causing baldness.

Though it is still up for debate whether this may cause female hair loss, as females and males tend to lose hair in different areas (women lose all the hair on the top of their head at once, whereas men will find a receding hair line from front to back) this still has not been ruled out as a cause for female baldness.

Medical Reasons for Female Hair Loss

One of the leading contenders for female hair loss is polycystic ovary syndrome. This problem alters the hormones in a woman’s body, which causes the hair loss to stop growing.