7 Reasons for Hair Loss

Sudden hair loss or alopecia in women can be a devastating event, and not knowing or understanding the cause may feel overwhelming. You need to know that there are multiple reasons for hair loss. Some of these reasons can be the result of a physical or behavioral event.   

Knowing the cause for your hair loss may enable you to take the right steps necessary to manage this condition and help you to consider different options for navigating the experience.

Let’s take a look at seven reasons for hair loss in women.

Health Conditions and Medications that Cause Hair Loss

Did you know that your general health can have an impact on your hair? The state of your health and the medications that you take can contribute to hair loss. Infections, poor eating habits, thyroid disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and other illnesses may cause your hair to thin. Medications used to treat these conditions may also lead those hair follicles to take an unexpected turn, slowing down the hair growth cycle.

Antidepressants, radiation or chemotherapy, blood pressure pills, some forms of birth control, and thyroid medications, are all examples of medicines that may contribute to hair loss.  You need to know that the hair loss event under these circumstances is not always immediate. The hair growth cycle takes place in stages, and therefore, you may not even notice the disruption to your natural hair growth cycle for two to four months.  If you experience hair loss as the result of medication, you should talk with your physician so that he/she can assist you in adjusting the dosage or potentially prescribing a new drug.

Can Your Hair Products Cause Hair Loss?

Unfortunately, there are occasions in which our hair product choices and desire to dye your hair frequently may contribute to a hair loss event. Different hair textures require different types of hair care products to thrive and may also require us to steer clear of specific practices, such as using hair dye. You have to be purposeful in choosing the product that best suits the needs of your hair. If your hair is dry and brittle, you will want to avoid hair products that can strip your hair, leaving it that much more vulnerable to incessant shedding episodes.   

Heat

Your flatiron and hair dryers may be the top two tools for achieving the perfect hairstyle, but these two items may also be significant contributors to the reason for your hair loss. Too much of a good thing can damage or weaken your hair over time, leaving it brittle and susceptible to shedding.

If you are using these tools often, you will want to ensure that you are using a thermal protectant to protect your hair for heat damage and heating tools that have temperature controls that do not require you to use the hottest setting to achieve that perfect, sleek ‘do.’  

Also, consider giving your hair a break from excessive manipulation by wearing a wig or using hair extensions.

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency may contribute to hair loss that resembles traditional male or female-pattern hair loss. Iron is a nutrient that plays a vital role in the hair growth cycle. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells.  Your red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin, contains approximately 70 percent of your body’s iron. When iron levels are low, it can contribute to a decrease in the number of red blood cells available to transport oxygen. Your scalp requires adequate blood flow so that critical nutrients reach the scalp region to help stimulate your hair follicles.

If iron stores are lacking or depleted, it can impact the hair growth cycle, and this disruption may contribute to hair thinning or even hair loss. The good news is that hair loss related to iron deficiency is reversible once you address the underlying problem via iron supplements. We offer treatment plans including but not limited to Viviscal Hair Vitamins (Iron rich) that are guaranteed to help slow or stop hair shedding.

Androgenetic Alopecia: It is in Your Genes

For some women, hair loss is in their genes. Your mother’s and father’s genes, coupled with other factors such as hormones and plain old aging, determine the destiny of your follicles. Hereditary hair loss may occur as early as your 20s, or for some women, they may notice a significant shift in their hair growth pattern after menopause.

A common form of hereditary hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. Hair may become thinner, or patchy bald spots may emerge. Hair loss events often due to the hair growth cycle becoming shorter, which leads to miniaturized or shorter and thinner hair. A time passes, hair eventually stops growing over portions of the scalp.

Women may notice that the top of their head and down the middle is where the hair loss takes place, mimicking the shape of a Christmas tree. This type of hair loss is permanent, but there are hair loss treatments that you can use to slow it down, which include finasteride,  minoxidil or Viviscal vitamins and topical hair products that help with slowing shedding. If you have concerns about the side effects any of these medications might have, wigs, hair toppers and hair extensions may present you with an alternative strategy during this difficult time.

Your Scalp and Hair Loss

We sometimes forget the importance of maintaining a good scalp care regimen. Your scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. Scalp infections, itchiness, dryness, or inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis can contribute to progressive hair loss in women. Each of these things can stop or slow hair loss creating an environment of thinning hair or patchy hair loss.

The key to managing scalp conditions is to determine the cause and rapidly get it under control to minimize damage or further hair loss.

History of Extensive Use of Hair Products or Tight Hairstyles

Hair loss and hairstyle choices have received a lot of attention in recent years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive and repetitive wear of tight styles such as ponytails, hair buns, hair weaves, or braids can contribute to patchy hair loss. This type of hair loss occurs as a result of the hair growing weaker over time, with each wear of the same style.

You can prevent hair loss due to tight hairstyles by changing your styling preferences up from time to time. This action will help to break up the monotony and avoid irreversible damage to your hairline and scalp.

Options for Navigating Hair Loss: Wigs & Hair Pieces

Wigs, hair extensions and hair pieces for hair loss are an excellent solution for women seeking to address a temporary or permanent hair loss situation. Many women are finding that wigs and hair extensions offer a safe pathway to achieving their desired look. Strut Hair Solutions offers a variety of budget friendly and luxury hair solutions for women experiencing hair loss to help them look and feel beautiful and confident. Our product lines not only consists of wigs and hair toppers, but the necessary accessories and topical products to sustain and extend the lifespan of your wig and hair pieces. We even offer our own line of luxury hair maintenance products. Schedule your appointment with us today.