| Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal | | | | treatment to chronic, extensive hair loss |
| factors. As a consequence, biological events | | | | that can involve the loss of all hair on the |
| like puberty, pregnancy and menopause that | | | | scalp or body hair. This type of hair loss |
| effect female hormone levels can also cause | | | | affects both genders equally and can occur at |
| female hair loss. In the case of pregnancy, | | | | any age, although it occurs most often in |
| hair loss is simply a consequence of the | | | | children and young adults. |
| stress the body undergoes during labor and | | | | |
| should stop approximately 6 months after | | | | Physical trauma - scarring, childbirth, |
| birth. | | | | burns, accidents, general anaesthesia, |
| | | | surgery. |
| Discontinuation of taking birth control pills | | | | |
| can also cause temporary female hair loss. | | | | Some common myths related to female hair loss |
| | | | are that frequent washing and shampooing, and |
| The cause of female baldness is not just | | | | wearing of wigs and hats all cause hair loss. |
| limited to menopause. Some women begin to see | | | | In addition, rumors abound that permanents, |
| their hair thinning as early as puberty. This | | | | coloring, and other cosmetic treatments can |
| typically results from a hormonal imbalance. | | | | cause permanent hair loss. Other myths are |
| A change in hormones can often lead to female | | | | that brushing your hair everyday will create |
| baldness. A hormone evaluation can tell you | | | | healthier hair, that shaving your head will |
| if hormones are the cause. | | | | cause hair to grow back thicker, and that |
| | | | stress causes permanent hair loss. |
| What can cause this hormonal imbalance? Most | | | | |
| commonly oral contraceptives, PCOS, menopause | | | | Stress is a major reason why you can |
| and pregnancy (post natal stages) can. All of | | | | experience hair loss. Therefore, start |
| these directly affect the hormone balance | | | | reducing the extra stress at once by taking |
| within a womans body and can lead to partial | | | | some time out of your daily schedule to |
| or dramatic thinning or loss of hair. Your | | | | relax. Also get enough sleep. You can also |
| doctor is the best person to speak to for | | | | start supplementing your diet with a good |
| advice on this especially in relation to | | | | hair loss nutritional supplement. |
| PCOS, menopause or oral contraception. | | | | |
| | | | The most important thing to remember is to |
| Causes of Hair Loss: | | | | try to remain positive throughout the |
| | | | treatments. It may take as long as a year to |
| Medication or drugs - the contraceptive | | | | begin seeing results from any form of female |
| pill, blood thinning or blood pressure | | | | hair loss treatment. Start by going to a |
| medication, thyroid hormones, cancer | | | | doctor, and just remember, almost everyone is |
| chemotherapy, radiation therapy, | | | | affected by hair loss at some point in their |
| coricosteroids, high dosage vitamin A, | | | | life. |
| amphetamines, cocaine drugs. (Please note | | | | |
| that hair loss does not necessarily occur | | | | Rogaine is the only medication approved by |
| with these medications). | | | | the FDA to treat female hair loss. Rogaine is |
| | | | packaged separately for women, in a solution |
| Alopecia Areata | | | | of 2% minoxidil. Many physicians suggest not |
| | | | using Rogaine while pregnant or |
| Alopecia areata is an immune disease that | | | | breastfeeding. Side effects can include scalp |
| affects almost 2% of the population in the | | | | irritation and more serious, but rare side |
| US. This type of hair loss appears in various | | | | effects if too much of the medication is |
| degrees of severity from small, round patches | | | | absorbed into the bloodstream. Talk to your |
| of hair loss that regrow without medical | | | | doctor before starting any treatment. |