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