Causes of Hair Loss in Women

Today, an increasing number of women are experiencing hair loss. Surprisingly, what causes hair loss in men can be very different from what causes balding in women.

For women, hair is often an important part of their personal style. Understandably, this causes many women will begin to panic once they realize they are experiencing hair loss.

The American Academy of Dermatology reports that hair loss in women is a growing problem, which currently affects close to 30 million women within the US alone -- since some types of hair loss are being experienced at an earlier age, this is contributing to the increasing numbers.

What causes hair loss in women? In order to understand what causes hair loss in women, it is important crucial to know how hair grows.

Interruption of the Growth Cycle

Our hair typically grows at close to half an inch per month, and each hair has a growth cycle of one to six years. At the end of the growth cycle, the hair goes into a "resting" stage for a short while, and then falls out. The follicle that the fallen hair grew out of will soon start to grow a new strand. This cycle will repeat, usually into the senior years.

There are some people, however, that have are genetically predisposed to hair loss -- a type of hormones known as androgens disrupts this natural hair growth cycle. Androgen hormones contain androsteinedione, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone -- all of these are produced in men's bodies in fairly large quantities, and in relatively small amounts within women's bodies.

In the genetically susceptible, the testosterone that comes into contact with enzymes that reside inside of the hair cell, it's converted into the the potent androgen DHT, which in-turn bonds with the receptors deep inside of the hair follicle.

After a while, excess build-up of DHT inside of a follicle can cause it to start shrinking, which then changes the normal resting and growing phases of the hair. Eventually, some of the follicles will die and will become incapable of sustaining the growth of healthy hair. The result of this is hair loss and a medical condition called androgenic alopecia.

Patterns of Female & Male Balding Are Different

While much of the science around female balding is still a mystery, there is recent evidence that a multitude other kinds of enzymes, in addition to hormone blockers and receptors, are causing hair loss in women.

One tell tale indicator that there is a big difference in male and female balding is that the pattern in which the hair loss occurs is completely different.

Men experience hair loss on the crown, temple & back of the head, whereas female pattern balding exists on the entire top of the head. Not surprisingly, the enzyme and hormone receptor areas are different in various areas of the scalp as well. This is one more reason many doctors now think that the hair loss patterns are being created by different factors.

Another big difference between male and female balding: Balding that occurs in men is usually the result of genetics coupled with age, whereas for women, hair loss and balding can occur at any given time. Another cause of hair loss in women can often times be an underlying medical condition; even if the person was diagnosed with androgenic alopecia.

Common Medical Causes

Many times women who are unaware that they are suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (a common hormonal problem for women) have hair loss as the only obvious sign.

Some types of autoimmune disorders can often cause less drastic hair loss problems called alopecia areata, a condition that causes the hair to fall out in clumps.

Additionally, some people can develop a temporary hair loss problem known as telogen effluvium. This occurs after the natural hair growth system following childbirth, a crash diet, surgery, or some other kind traumatic emotional event occurs.

Other medical conditions that can cause hair loss in women yet often go undaignosed are anemia, chronic illness thyroid disorders, and some medications.

Because there are so many factors that can affect or cause a woman's hair loss, hair loss specialists say it is important for women experiencing hair loss to identify the cause of their hair loss before they seek treatment.