CAUSES OF THINNING HAIR IN WOMEN

It is completely normal to lose some hair – about 100 strands – every day as a part of the hair growth cycle.

But if you feel your hair is becoming thinner, there are a number of reasons why, including the natural ageing process and hereditary hair loss. Women with thinning hair often think it’s due to something they’ve done. Whereas, in fact, sustained hair thinning in women is usually hereditary, so don’t blame yourself. It is only occasionally that there may be other causes, such as illness, diet and stress, which we’ll go through in this section. The important thing is for you to get a proper diagnosis of your particular thinning hair by seeing your Trichologist (call 0207 976 6868 for free advice).

Thin, fine or thinning hair?
These three terms are often used in the same breath when talking about thinning hair. However, they each mean something different.

Thin hair
If you have thin hair, it means you physically have a small number of hair follicles on your scalp. Blondes normally have the most hairs, around 140,000, with redheads having fewer, around 90,000.

Fine hair
Although blondes have more hair follicles, the actual diameter of their hair strands are normally smaller, making it appear ‘fine’. Hairs that are coarse have wider, ‘thicker’ hairs.
 

Thinning hair
When hair is thinning, it means that the scalp is in the process of losing hair. This can be due to a variety of conditions. The most common cause is androgenetic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). If you are experiencing thinning hair, we can help you pinpoint the cause in our Root of the Problem section.

True or False?
“Women lose around 20% of their hair between 20 and 50 years of age”
 

True. Between 20 and 30 years of age, you have an average of 615 hair follicles per square centimetre but by 50, this number falls to 485 per square centimetre.

Do you have Hair Loss Problems, read our Hair Loss Help

HAIR LOSS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN TO MEN, IT HAPPENS TO WOMEN AS WELL

It’s true, hair loss happens to women as well as men. This may come as a shock, but hair loss in women is not as rare as you might think. The fact is, women do experience hair loss, but they may not realize it until later in life.

Just like with men, hair loss in women comes on gradually. Unless you are paying attention, you may gaze into the mirror one morning and be shocked that your hair appears to have lost its fullness; there may be thinning spots, which upon close inspection reveal balding areas.

1 Out of Every 3 Women Will Lose Hair

When a woman begins losing her hair, it is usually due to a condition known as androgenetic alopecia. The result of this form of hair loss is a thinning of the hair in the top, and front areas of the head. Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary and can be inherited from either side of the family. It is estimated that about 33% of postmenopausal women experience hair loss that can be contributed to androgenetic alopecia.

Additional causes of hair loss in women include, stress, birth control pills, and hormone imbalance. Though distressing, hair loss due to these causes normally only lasts about a year. After giving birth, a woman may also experience some hair loss, and a number of women are extremely shocked when it occurs, but can take comfort in knowing that it is not usually permanent.

Permanent hair loss can occur if the hair follicle dies, but if the hair follicle is in a dormant state, there is still hope to stop, and possibly even reverse hair loss. Fortunately there is a way to combat hair loss.

Do you have Hair Loss Problems, read our Hair Loss Help

HAIR LOSS DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN TO MEN, IT HAPPENS TO WOMEN AS WELL

It’s true, hair loss happens to women as well as men. This may come as a shock, but hair loss in women is not as rare as you might think. The fact is, women do experience hair loss, but they may not realize it until later in life.

Just like with men, hair loss in women comes on gradually. Unless you are paying attention, you may gaze into the mirror one morning and be shocked that your hair appears to have lost its fullness; there may be thinning spots, which upon close inspection reveal balding areas.

1 Out of Every 3 Women Will Lose Hair

When a woman begins losing her hair, it is usually due to a condition known as androgenetic alopecia. The result of this form of hair loss is a thinning of the hair in the top, and front areas of the head. Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary and can be inherited from either side of the family. It is estimated that about 33% of postmenopausal women experience hair loss that can be contributed to androgenetic alopecia.

Additional causes of hair loss in women include, stress, birth control pills, and hormone imbalance. Though distressing, hair loss due to these causes normally only lasts about a year. After giving birth, a woman may also experience some hair loss, and a number of women are extremely shocked when it occurs, but can take comfort in knowing that it is not usually permanent.

Permanent hair loss can occur if the hair follicle dies, but if the hair follicle is in a dormant state, there is still hope to stop, and possibly even reverse hair loss. Fortunately there is a way to combat hair loss.

Do you have Hair Loss Problems, read our Hair Loss Help