Causes of Female Hair Loss

Hair loss is a natural part of the body's process of renewal. Hair loss is common problem men and women. Hormonal changes may contribute to rapid hair loss. Hair loss is relatively common in women, more common than one would imagine. Hair loss is often hereditary and effects about 50% of women. Most common type of hair loss in women occurs in a diffuse pattern. Diffuse hair loss is most often hereditary, but it can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, medications, and other factors. Loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or diffuse (all over).

In women, androgenic alopecia is probably the most common. Women generally have a diffuse thinning (less hair all over), in contrast to men who more frequently have a "patterned" type (hair loss that spares the back and sides). Women often maintain their frontal hairline, whereas men characteristically lose a significant amount of hair in the front part of their scalp from the very beginning.

Hair loss in women is most often very gradual, with the rate accelerating during pregnancy and at menopause. Baldness in women appears to be related to the same major factors Genes is major factor f of baldness in women. Genes that are located on the X or Y-chromosomes are call sex-linked. Genes on the other 22 pairs of chromosomes are called autosomal. It is felt that the genes governing common baldness are autosomal. This means that the baldness trait can be inherited from the mother's side of the family or the father's side.

Hair loss in women, divide different types of patterns into three broad categories. Fist is Localized hair loss may be sub-divided into scarring and non-scarring types.Second is Patterned Hair Loss. Third is diffuse Hair Loss.

Hair loss in women is often emotionally devastating. Scarring Alopecia can be caused by a variety of medical or dermatologic conditions such as Lupus and Lichen Planus, or local radiation therapy. Baldness from injuries, or from local medical problems that have been cured, are usually amenable to hair transplantation Localized hair loss that occurs around the hairline after face-lift surgery may be permanent as can Traction Alopecia, the hair loss that occurs with constant tugging on the hair. Both of these conditions can be treated with hair transplantation.

Women with patterned hair loss may be excellent candidates for surgical restoration. Diffuse Hair Loss seen in females. In this situation, much of the hair remains, but the thickness of the hair shaft is smaller than normal hair.Hormones imbalance is another major factors of hair loss in women. Testosterone is converted to DHT by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that is present in higher concentrations in the balding areas of the scalp.

Women have only ½ the amount of this enzyme overall as men and have even less in the crown. Hair loss tends to occur at different rates at different periods in one's life with increased loss often occurring during periods of hormonal change, such as pregnancy and menopause.