Hair loss in women

- Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Hair Loss)

- Alopecia Areata

- Telogen Effluvium (Diffuse Hair Loss)

- Congenital Alopecia

- Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

- Traction Alopecia

- Cicatracial Alopecia

- Trichotillomania

- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Many women are suffering from Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia) in a very similar way to men.

The main difference between the two is that while male pattern baldness exhibits characteristics of receding hairline with a thinning crown, female pattern baldness follows a diffuse thinning noticed primarily where the hair is parted in the early stages and continues to affect the cranial area (centre) of the scalp, often. with no signs of receding hairline.

This can be seen in the animated chart below which shows a natural pattern that female hair loss sufferers experience.

Depending on the stage of progression of your hair loss, we are able to create a personalised treatment plan to suit your short-term and long-term goals.

The hair loss in women can be very complex and although it is commonly caused by the same genetic and hereditary reasons associated with male hair loss, it is vital to make an accurate assessment as to what it’s causes are.

Our current advanced techniques for hair/scalp and blood analysis enable us to most accurately diagnose the causes for your hair loss and play a key role in guiding us to the most effective options suitable to help you achieve your hair thickness goals.

Female Pattern Baldness

NHS England estimates that around 50% of women over the age of 65 experience female-pattern baldness.

There are three main factors that can cause this type of hair loss/thinning:

• age
• hereditary factors
• testosterone hormone (this affects 1 in 4 women)

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a distinctive form of diffuse hair loss that occurs in women with androgenetic alopecia. Many women are affected by FPHL. Around 40% of women by age 50 show signs of hair loss and less than 45% of women reach the age of 80 with a full head of hair.

In women, the first signs of female pattern baldness may be a widening part or a feeling that the hair does not feel as thick as usual. Although the scalp may be visible, the hairline usually does not recede.

Losing some hair every day is completely natural.

In fact, losing up to 100 hairs per day is totally normal. If you’re not sure what’s normal for you, it’s a good idea to simply pay attention to what you typically see in your brush or shower drain.

Most of the time, minor hair loss is just a sign that your body's growing new, healthy ones to replace the old.

But when you’re losing a lot of hair, it can be difficult to figure out what’s causing the hair loss, especially in women.

Most women notice hair loss, for instance, when their ponytail is thinner or when they’re generally seeing more scalp when parting their hair.

Trying to figure out why you’re suddenly losing more hair than usual can be tricky because there are many different causes of hair loss in women.

Some, like hereditary hair loss (Androgenetic Alopecia), aren’t really in your control.

But others, like Traction Alopecia or Telogen Effluvium (temporary hair loss) can be managed or even reversed if caught early.

Making things even more complicated, some causes of hair loss in women result in sudden shedding while others may become progressively more noticeable over time.

These are some of the most common reasons for hair loss in women

Genetics

When we think of hereditary hair loss, we usually go straight to male pattern baldness. But people of all genders are susceptible to hereditary hair loss. In women the hair loss is usually concentrated at the crown of the head (especially noticeable at the hair part), while it’s more likely to affect men along the hairline.

Although you can’t prevent this type of hair loss entirely, there are treatments available that can slow it down and make hair stay fuller longer. So the sooner you start treatment, the better.

Childbirth

Normally, your hair goes through three major life stages.

• Growth Phase
• Transitional Phase when the growing stops but the hair doesn’t fall out
• Resting Phase.

Finally, after the resting phase, your hair falls out.

During pregnancy, most people notice their hair going into rapid growth mode.

Everything is in a grow, grow, grow phase, because there are surges of hormones (oestrogen) that make hair grow.

Not only is the growth stage kicked into high gear, but also it lasts longer than normal, meaning that normal shedding doesn't occur.

Once oestrogen levels go back to normal after delivery, hair resumes its normal growth cycles and starts to shed all that thick, luscious hair that accumulated over the last 9 months. Some women experience very mild shedding, but others experience intense shedding for a few months.

This type of hair loss (technically, hair shedding) is called Telogen Effluvium, and it can occur months after a stressful or major life event like childbirth. Shedding peaks about four months after the incident that caused it.

After childbirth (postpartum) hair loss is luckily temporary.

Please contact us and our friendly staff will be happy to guide you through your very own home hair care program.

Changes in Birth Control

Going off hormonal birth control or changing to a different type of hormonal contraception can also cause hormone-induced shedding. Whether you're just starting it, discontinuing it, or changing brands, your body can react by causing the hair to go into an increased shedding mode.

This is another form of telogen effluvium, which means that it’s usually temporary.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Creating and maintaining healthy hair relies on getting solid nutrition.

In particular, deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin), and protein have all been linked to various types of hair loss.

Research shows that a lack of Vitamin D in your body can lead to hair loss. One role Vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isn't enough Vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted.

We offer a no-needle nutritional blood assessment and a comprehensive blood test that measures over 40 different aspects of your blood chemistry. This is a very useful guide for us to make a more thorough evaluation and therefore provide a more informed approach to your individual circumstances.

Medications

Some medications can cause chronic shedding. In particular, those used to manage high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis, and depression are known to cause hair loss issues.

Dandruff and Scalp Psoriasis

When the skin on the scalp is inflamed and itchy, it’s obviously tempting to scratch it. But that may cause your hair to shed more than usual.

Dandruff is the most easily treated cause of hair loss. But other conditions can also cause itchiness and scalp flaking, including seborrheic dermatitis (a more severe version of dandruff caused by a buildup of yeast and oil) and psoriasis (an autoimmune condition that causes thick patches of skin).

Intense Emotional or Physical Distress

It’s common for emotional stress to lead to physical stress and these have been known to trigger hair loss in women.

Common ones include:

• Bereavement
• Divorce
• Losing your job
• Moving home

Quite often the hair loss in the cases above are temporary and once the stressful event has passed, hair can resume its normal growth pattern.

Autoimmune Diseases

An autoimmune condition makes the body recognise its own hair follicles as foreign and it attacks them and makes the hair fall out.

 This could be a condition like Alopecia Areata, which is when the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Sometimes people with alopecia areata do see their hair grow back (although it may fall out again). Conditions that primarily affect another part of the body, like:

• thyroid disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• sickle-cell anaemia can also cause hair loss as one of many symptoms.
• a condition known as Lupus can cause some scarring of the hair follicle, resulting in permanent hair loss.

These conditions can be serious and require an accurate diagnosis from an experienced health care provider.

Wearing too-Tight Hairstyles Too Often

This can cause Traction Alopecia.

Classically, this happens when people wear tight braids chronically and quite common with tight ponytails too. It can cause progressive thinning of the hairline, and if you do it for long enough, the hair loss may actually become permanent. It's considered a scarring process, which can damage the hair follicle beyond repair.

To help prevent and treat hair loss due to traction alopecia, it is advisable to not wear the same hairstyle for too long, and not to pull it too tightly.

Heat Styling Your Hair Regularly

Women often present with hair loss, when really they have something called Trichorrhexis Nodosa.

This is a condition in which damaged, weak points in the hair shaft cause hair to break off easily.

The cause? Thermal damage to the hair from things like using hot tools and over-bleaching. In this case, the hair loss is not necessarily from the root but it's from somewhere along the shaft.

Treatment usually involves finding and avoiding the source of the damage, which could be hot tools, harsh chemicals, or aggressive brushing. Instead, opt for gentle brushing techniques and gentle, soothing hair products.

Heat Over-Processing Your Hair

Getting frequent perms, chemical straightening procedures, or relaxing procedures, basically anything that uses harsh chemicals on your scalp and hair can damage the hair follicle and cause permanent hair loss. After repetitive treatment, the hair follicles just won't grow back. This can cause hair to appear thinner, and may be especially noticeable on the scalp.

You can prevent further damage by avoiding those harsh procedures and using products designed to help hydrate and heal your hair and scalp. But if you want your hair to grow back, please contact us to book an Advanced Hair Analysis consultation.

There Are Things You Can Do To Prevent Hair Loss

If you notice your hair is thinning and it bothers you, there are some easy ways to make it appear fuller and simultaneously help prevent more hair loss or breakage:

• Wash as often as you need to but no more

Both under and over-washing can affect the volume and feel of your hair.

Not washing enough causes a buildup of product and oil that can weight your hair down. But washing too frequently can strip the hair of its natural oils, making it more dry and prone to breakage. Experts recommend sticking to washing about two or three times per week and adjusting as needed for your particular situation.

• Always use conditioner after shampooing. Conditioner makes your hair shinier and helps reduce static electricity, both of which helps thinning hair look fuller and glossier.

But remember: A little goes a long way, and too much will weigh hair down.

• Try leave-on products. Leave-in conditioners and detanglers help keep your hair moisturised throughout the day and protect against the effects of heat styling that otherwise can cause thinning and breakage.

How Can We Help?

If you are experiencing hair loss, please don’t let yourself suffer in silence…there could be a very simple solution to help you.

Help us restore your confidence today:

• Call Eden Hair Clinic on (020) 7870 20065
  
• Book an Advanced Hair Analysis appointment
• Complete our online consultation form

CLINIC & VIDEO CONSULTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE

We offer initial advice via email. Please feel free to email us: info@theedenheairclinic.com with a short description of your hair loss concern, when it started and what area it affects. Please add info on any medication you currently take, any allergies and pre-existing illnesses.