Hair loss is a debate that rages on. Whether hair loss is a medical or health condition, is an issue that has been subject to many studies over the years. In cases where hair loss in women is linked to medical conditions, it always has more to do with some treatment procedures.
For health condition related hair losses, a lot could be going on it a woman’s body, triggering Telogen. Moreover, anything can go wrong awfully wrong with a normal hair growth cycle, triggering unprecedented fall out.
How does hair grow?
Before we dig deeper into this subject, it would be prudent to help you understand how hair grows. Studies have shown that hair growth takes places in cycles namely Anagen, Telogen and catagen.
You can read more on these phases or check back soon for a post explaining them in details. For now, you should note that an overwhelming majority of people lose strands of hair every day. That includes men and women.
According to American Academy of dermatology, daily hair loss is often in the range of 30 to 100 strands. It happens a lot when taking a shower/bathing, usually in the range of 250 strands every day. Does it, therefore, mean that women should avoid washing their hair to avoid losing some?
The answer is no. Hair will finally fall out, whether you like it or not. It’s a natural phenomenon. But here is the catch. What about instances where it becomes noticeable as receding hairline or leg baldness in women? Well, let’s explore further to find out.
Causes of hair loss in women
· Genetics
Whether genetics causes hair loss or not is a subject under investigation. But so far, researchers have discovered some interesting leads. Genetics as a cause of a hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, affects more than thirty million women in America.
You can imagine how many more women suffer from the condition worldwide. While medical experts opine that androgenetic alopecia mostly happens late 50s or early 60s, chances of it occurring earlier in life are realer than you think.
While hair follicles are naturally wired to shed off some hair and trigger a replacement, it does not always happen in women. Often, a miniaturized or shrinking hair becomes manifest instead of fully grown strands.
· Medical conditions
Medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, anemia and pregnancy are also leading causes of hair loss in women. Others include psoriasis, a skin condition, polycystic ovary syndrome and some types of dermatitis. Researchers have also linked hair loss in women to menopause, but there is no meaningful proof yet.
· Hairstyles
Hair styling can also cause hair loss, especially in women. Take, for example, tight brains and cornrows. The biological term for this type of hair loss is traction alopecia.
Think about chemical hair treatments, blow dry and hair dry, you realize many things are at play. We can, therefore, conclude that sometimes hair loss is self-inflicted. While women who lose hair through this process should expect natural re-growth, sometimes it is not the case.
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