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Author:
G Marwick

Research shows that up to two thirds of women experience hair loss at some stage in their life and this can often be a very stressful time for women and is an integral part of their self image.

The most common causes of hair loss in women is not related to inherited genes but usually associated with other factors such as pregnancy, stress, chemotherapy, certain diets, thyroid hormone deficiency, some drugs or infections. Unlike men the hair loss in this case is usually temporary and healthy re-growth can occur over time.

Unlike men, women rarely go bald but may experience significant thinning and reduction of the hair shaft diameter around the forehead and crown of the scalp as they age.

If you are one of the millions of women who suffer from hair loss the most important factor is to understand why you are losing your hair before you seek out a remedy or solution.

Causes of hair loss:

1. Genetics: The most common cause of hair loss is rooted in your genes also known as androgenetic alopecia, hereditary hair loss can begin any time after puberty, but usually sets in before the age of forty and may accelerate around the time you reach menopause.

2. Pregnancy: A large amount of oestrogen is produced during pregnancy causing the hair follicles to go into their growth phase. Once the birth is over the hormonal balance is restored and the opposite happens with the hair follicles going into a hair loss phase.

3. Alopecia areata: The reasons for this are relatively unknown but research has shown that the cause is thought to be an auto immune disorder where the body mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. What follows is an inflammation of the follicles and surrounding hair structures. This causes the hair follicles to retreat into the deeper layers of skin shutting off an important nutrient supply, the follicles starve and the hair starts shedding followed by a dormant period.
4. Stress: Another common reason for hair loss in women is stress as known as Telogen Effluvium. What happens is that the growing healthy hairs enter the resting (telogen) phase of hair growth. The hairs matrix appears to stop dividing causing the hair to begin falling out. Women in their 40’s to 60’s will be affected by this kind of hair loss.
5. Drugs or Supplements: The most common drug treatment that causes hair loss is Chemotherapy. This kind of medication attacks the hair cells of the matrix causing 90% hair loss from the scalp. Prescription drugs are also known to thin hair out. These can be Blood thinners, high blood pressure and cholesterol drugs. Some dieting supplements can also be causes of hair loss.
6. Hair pulling: Also known as trichotillomania. Unlike other types or hair loss this is not a medical but more a psychological disorder. There are literally millions of people around the worlds that suffer from this condition. These are mostly adult women that suffer from low self esteem, anxiety, depression or are dissatisfied with their bodies. This condition can be treated with counselling.

About the Author
Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of www.no-gray-hair.com that provides solutions and advice on the treatment of gray hair and Female Hair loss

| Article Keywords: Hair Loss

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Hair Loss... Hair Loss And Hair Facts In order to give your hair the best care, you must learn about it. Weather you are looking for the best hair loss products or using hair straighteners, you will find the following facts interesting and informative • In any given time, about 10% of the hairs are resting and the rest are growing. • One fiber can support the weight of 100 grams. • One of the main reasons for hair loss is the use of drugs (you can find the best hair loss product for each hair loss type). • The main component of hair is the keratin, which also holds the responsibility for the elasticity of the finger nails. • Every person loses more than 40% of his hairs – about 100 hairs a day. • Hair loss will be visible only after losing more than 50% of hair. • Europeans and Africans tend to have more hair loss problems than Asians. • More than 50% of men above the age of 50 suffer from hair loss. • There are more than 100,000 pieces of hair over an average scalp – Scalps with blond hair have about 120,000 and scalps with red hair have about 80,000 hairs. • One hair usually has a thickness of only 0.02-0.04”. • Hair grows the best between 10 AM to 11 AM and again between 4 PM to 6 PM. • 40% percent of middle age women suffer from female pattern hair loss. • In the United States, there has not been an elected bald President since the television age began. • The hair grows at the rate of 12 millimeters every month. 35 meters of hairs is produces on an average scalp each day. • Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body. • Asian hair grows the fastest and has the greatest elasticity. • Hair grows the best between the ages of 15 to 30. • Hair grows faster in summer than winter. • 40 million men and 20 million women suffer from hair loss. • Your gender could not be revealed by...