5 Reasons for Female Hair Loss

Many people think hair loss is a male-specific problem, but that isn’t the case. According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 50% of women have noticeable hair loss at one time or another. Although losing your hair can be devastating, it doesn’t have to be permanent.

At Medical Aesthetics & Laser, R. David Reeves, MD, and his team specialize in women’s hair loss treatment. In this blog, we look at five common reasons for female hair loss and explain how to prevent it from worsening.

Common reasons female hair loss occurs

Female hair loss occurs for various reasons. Let’s look at five of the most common causes:

1. Iron deficiency anemia

About 40% of girls and women don’t get enough iron. Sometimes, iron deficiency is caused by a poor diet, but it can also be caused by heavy menstrual bleeding. Regardless of the cause, restoring your iron levels to balance is essential.

Iron is key to hemoglobin and ribonucleotide reductase production. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that helps carry nutrient and oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, while ribonucleotide reductase is an enzyme that supports cell growth.

Researchers aren’t sure why, but both factors seem to affect the hair’s growth cycle and weaken hair follicles, which can increase the risk of hair thinning, and ultimately, hair loss.

2. Stress

Another common cause of female hair loss is telogen effluvium, which occurs after a stressful event or due to an underlying medical condition.

Telogen effluvium causes more than 70% of your hair to enter the telogen or shedding phase. Normally, this phase only affects about 5% of hairs, but the sudden increase causes your hair to thin and fall out. Thankfully, treatment can reverse this type of hair loss and prevent it from worsening.

3. Hormone changes

Hormones are chemical messengers responsible for various bodily functions. They fluctuate throughout our lives, but certain events, such as pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, can cause drastic changes in their levels.

Unfortunately, these changes affect the hair and hair follicles. For example, when estrogen levels drop during perimenopause or after giving birth, the hair follicles enter a dormant or “resting” phase. Hormone changes also affect circulation to the scalp, depriving the hair follicles of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood.

4. Genetics

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a hereditary (genetic) condition that runs in some families and affects up to 30 million American women. It causes the hair on your scalp to become thin and/or fall out. FPHL is often mild at first but tends to worsen with time. If your mother, grandmother, or sister have FPHL, you’re more likely to have it too.

5. Dying or coloring your hair

Coloring your hair can turn back the clock and boost your self-esteem, but it can also increase your risk of hair loss. Hair dyes won’t necessarily cause your hair to fall out at the root, but they do increase the risk of hair damage and shedding. That’s especially true if you color your hair with chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, which cause hair to become fragile and break.

How female hair loss is treated

Treatment of female hair loss depends on the underlying cause and severity of your symptoms. After an exam and a discussion of your symptoms, your provider might recommend:

• Partnering with a mental health professional to reduce your stress levels
• Taking vitamins or supplements to address a nutrient deficiency
• Changing your hairstyling routine to avoid damaging hair follicles
• Not using chemical treatments and dyes that damage your hair
• Managing underlying health conditions that increase the risk of hair loss
• Taking medications like minoxidil to increase hair growth

Often, it takes some trial and error to find the right treatment. Attend each of your appointments and follow your provider’s instructions for optimal results. 

More than half of women experience female hair loss at some time during their lives, but it doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion. Take the first step toward healthier, thicker hair today by scheduling a hair restoration appointment. Call us at our clinic in The Woodlands, Texas, or book your appointment online.