Most of us are familiar with male pattern baldness. Either we’ve experienced it ourselves or we’ve known someone who has. It’s familiar enough to us that we could probably all name at least one product intended to treat it.
However, many of us are less familiar with female hair loss. However, it can be almost as common as male pattern baldness and it’s not uncommon for women’s hair to thin as they age, just like men’s. Female hair loss can take on a lot of forms, because it can have a number of causes.
We’ve all been mystified at how much hair we shed when we brush, not to mention when we wash our hair. But how can you tell if it’s something more serious than typical loss? The first sign is both that you seem to be shedding more than usual and it’s not growing back.
The first thing you should do is look into the past, specifically your ancestors. If your mother or other older female relatives have thinning hair, then your thinning hair is likely due to genetics. If this isn’t the case, though, then it’s time to investigate other causes.
One common cause is hormonal dysfunction. There are multiple reasons why this could be happening, but a typical reason is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It’s an endocrine disorder that can cause your hair—all of your hair—to react in unusual ways. Your head hair may thin, while your body hair grows. It’s not hair-related, but with PCOS, you might also find it hard to lose weight. If you suspect this is the culprit, you should see a doctor.
Another common trigger is a nutrient deficiency. The two most likely vitamins behind hair loss are B-12 and iron. Try adding them to your diet through food or through supplements and see if that makes a difference. Nutritional deficiencies can be common in people who are dieting, so if you’ve lost a lot of weight, that could be causing your hair loss.
Hair loss can be stressful, so it’s almost a cruel joke that stress in itself can cause hair loss. You’ll know if you’re under more stress than normal, so if you believe that might be causing your hair loss, you should work on ways to relieve your stress.
