The 3 most common reasons for female hair loss

On average, women lose 50 to 100 strands of hair from the time they get out of bed every morning until they make their way back each night. However, not everyone loses hair at the same rate. Alopecia is the common medical term for hair loss, and although causes may vary, we have identified the most common factors reported by women suffering from hair loss.

• Hair growth undergoes three different stages: anagen (growth phase), catagen (rest phase) and telogen (shedding phase).
• Nearly 90% of the hair on an average woman’s scalp is in the anagen or growth phase, which lasts anywhere between 2 to 3 years for most women.

Since hair loss in women is often a result of a combination of internal and external factors such as mental and physical well-being, we have identified the most common factors influencing hair loss. Losing hair is natural, but what are the main reasons behind an unhealthy amount of female hair loss?

Top 3 Reasons for Female Hair Loss

1. STRESS

Compare hair growth to growing a garden. If there is excessive rainfall or extended dry spells, your crop will suffer. Similarly, external factors including stress play a large part in hair loss among women. Your external circumstances impact hair growth, so physical trauma or stress can result in hair thinning or excessive shedding. Physical stress caused by a car accident, for example, or work-related issues can shorten the growth phase and push hair directly to the shedding phase, resulting in hair loss. Stress related hair loss may be detected immediately by women or take up to six months to show.

To avoid hair loss as a result of stress, manage stress levels by taking on calming activities. Take on yoga, exercise or meditation to rejuvenate yourself after a busy, tense day. Although stress related hair loss is often temporary, it’s important to consult a professional that specializes in hair loss to see what your options are.

2. DIET

Severe dieting or an imbalance in your diet can also lead to excessive hair loss. An iron, beta-carotene, vitamin-C or magnesium deficiency are some of the many shortages one’s body can face that can result in hair loss. It is essential to have an overall healthy vitamin intake in order to avoid losing strands of hair. Women don’t have to reach the final stage of any deficiency, such as anemia, to start losing hair. According to Nutrition for Women, nearly 43% of women suffer from anemia, which is just one of the deficiencies that result in hair loss. Any shortage of proteins and nutrients in one’s diet can result in hair loss among women. It is key to monitor your diet during hectic stages of life, including pregnancy, dieting, a move or stressful change. Ensure that your body and diet is adapting to the demands of these changes in order to remain healthy and with a full head of hair.

Once you monitor and understand what your body needs from within, it will be easy to fight the external sources leading to hair loss. Rather than being stressed each time you examine your hair brush after a shower, take charge of your diet to prevent hair loss.

According to Health with Food, there are foods that help with hair growth, such as:

• Spinach
• Yoghurt
• Nuts
• Carrots
• Fresh greens
• Fish
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Barley
• Wheat
• Black sesame seeds

3. GENETICS

Sometimes hair loss is just hereditary. Female pattern alopecia is the most common hereditary thinning or balding form of hair loss among women. Pattern hair loss can be inherited either from one’s paternal or maternal side. According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, nearly 40% of women show signs of hair loss by the age of 50, usually during or post-menopause.

Typically, when a hair follicle sheds the hair, it should be replaced by a strand of hair similar in size and thickness. In the case of women dealing with female pattern hair loss, the hair grows back but it is thinner and less healthy. The hair follicle eventually stops growing hair altogether and bald patches form.

What are some ways to extend hair follicles from giving in too quickly? Herbal oil treatments are great at facilitating hair growth, even among women who suffer from pattern alopecia or other genetic hair loss patterns. Depending on your scalp type, coconut oil, castor oil, almond old and olive oil, or a combination of these oils are great at helping with hair loss.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
At 3rd Dimension, we offer hair replacement products that help maintain your hair growth and protect the hair replacement treatments we offer. Our custom-made hair systems could be the solution you need to counter your genetics, regardless of how severe your hair loss might be.

While some of the identified reasons for hair loss among women may be temporary, others require a more permanent solution. This is where we at 3rd Dimension come in. While hair loss might be a natural process as one ages, we have the solutions you want to overcome the insecurity that often results from premature hair loss. Contact us for a consultation to determine whether any of our hair growth products or non-surgical replacement systems are right for you. If you would like to share your story or solutions to any of the causes for hair loss listed above, call or email us. We also offer consultations via Skype and Facetime to provide you the answers you are looking for.