Women’s Hair Loss Causes and Treatment

Causes of Female Hair Loss and Thinning Hair in Women

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia or baldness and alopecia areata.

Physical and Emotional Stress

Surgeries, severe illnesses and emotional stress can cause hair loss.

In many cases there is a three month delay between the actual event and the onset of hair loss.

Additionally, there may be another three month delay prior to the return of noticeable hair re-growth.

This means that the total hair loss and re-growth cycle can last six months or possibly longer when induced by physical or emotional stress.

Hormonal Considerations

Hormonal changes are a common cause of hair loss. Many women do not realize that hair loss can occur after pregnancy or following discontinuation of birth control pills.

Dietary Considerations

Female hair loss may also occur due to dieting. Franchised diet programs which are designed or administered under the direction of a physician with prescribed meals, dietary supplements and vitamin ingestion have become popular. Sometimes the client is told that vitamins are a necessary part of the program to prevent hair loss associated with dieting.

From a dermatologists standpoint, however, the vitamins cannot prevent hair loss associated with rapid, significant weight loss.