The Main Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
by: Richard Mitchell
When you think of hair loss
it's natural to assume that it's a condition
that predominantly affects
men. Some experts however suggest that
as many as one in four women
will experience hair loss at some time
in their lives. So why don't
we see and hear more about it? Perhaps
the answer has something to do
with one or more of the following:
- Women are better at disguising hair loss.
- Women's hair loss is generally less extensive in
terms of severity.
- Women's hair loss tends to be spread evenly over the
head rather than concentrated in one or two spots.
So why do women lose hair - are the causes very
different to those that result in male baldness? There are probably three common
reasons for hair loss in women:
- Female pattern baldness - believe it or not, most
women affected by hair loss lose it for the same reasons as men. They suffer
from androgenetic alopecia which is a reaction to male hormones in the body,
specifically the conversion of testosterone into the hair-unfriendly DHT. In
the case of women, pattern baldness may start later and the effects may be
less extreme due to the influence of female hormones, but the condition is
nonetheless the same as that found in male pattern baldness.
- Telogen effluvium - this is regarded as the second
most common cause of women's hair loss and this is unsurprising given the
nature of the condition. Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general
thinning of the hair and is usually brought about as a result of some
traumatic event causing sufficient stress to interfere with the normal hair
growth cycle. Given that pregnancy is a prime example of the type of event
that can shock the hair growth cycle then perhaps the high incidence of
telogen effluvium amongst women is only to be expected.
- Alopecia areata - this is the third most common hair
loss condition to affect women. It is characterized by patchy areas of hair
loss on the head or it can be more widespread over the body. It is thought
to be caused by deficiencies in the immune system but much is still not
known about the condition. In many cases the hair regrows spontaneously
after a variable period of time, but in a minority of cases the problem may
be more severe and longstanding.
* If you experience any form of hair loss arrange to
visit your physician to discuss the treatments that may be suitable for your
particular condition.
Herbal hair loss remedies that offer hope
Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they
support the body's natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the
problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to
present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers -
there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies
offer real hope to many people.
Let's examine the case for some of the
more popular remedies to determine if they're worth trying.
Ginkyo biloba - this popular herb is
thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe
that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to
the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. The recommended dose is
120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.
Green tea (Camellia sinesis) - it is
thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme
5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is
therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type
baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in
capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.
He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) - also
known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair
loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) - derived from
the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely
used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take
60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.
Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) - this is
the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the
prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. It forms the core element
of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in
its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make
sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries
themselves.
Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) - this has
long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block
the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form
with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when
combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.
Female hair loss? Find the best treatment for you at OnlyHairLoss.com. Choose from 100's of hair loss products!
|
Site
Map