Causes of Female Hair Loss

There are variety of causes involved in female hair loss. Females in their teens rarely develop hair loss, while, women in their adolescence experience Alopecia areata and Alopecia totalis. Hormonal fluctuation or disorder is the fundamental cause of female as well as male hair loss. Hair follicles are susceptible to fluctuating hormonal levels and get damaged.



Hormonal fluctuation is itself associated with many other factors like teenage, menstrual cycles, menopause, pregnancy and lactation. At the time, one or more causes may affect your body leading to overproduction of hormones, DHT etc. Thyroid glands is also one of the cause that affects hair growth. Activity of thyroid glands takes part in normal metabolism. When metabolism is abnormal, hair follicles will be unhealthy and hair thinning may take place.

Menstrual cycles is the biggest cause of hormonal fluctuation in women. It starts from teenage of females and lasts at around 45 years age. Most women complain that during monthly cycles, they experience more hair thinning. Although it is a natural process, but in most women it does cause hair thinning at any stage of life. Zinc is an essential mineral required for healthy growth of hair and skin, but during menses, zinc is lost. Menstrual hair loss is very common in females who do not have a balanced diet.

During teenage, your body undergoes several changes for healthy growth. Hormones are necessary for healthy growth but in teenage, they are often overproduced. There are many organs in your body and their growth depends upon hormones. Unfortunately hair follicles in your skin is very susceptible to excessive production of these hormones like DHT, testosterone, progesterone etc. According to studies, excessive DHT deteriorate hair follicles. When hair follicles are deteriorated, they produce no hair shaft and existing hair shafts fall.

The term menopause refers to ending of monthly periods in women. It usually happens when a woman reaches at 45 years of age. It is also very traumatic time for a women in terms of hormonal fluctuation and body changes. According to many studies, during menopause, a woman experience hormonal fluctuation, either low production or higher production.

For a pregnant woman, it has always been a hot topic and concerning situation to loss hair during or after pregnancy. Pregnancy hair loss not only caused by hormonal fluctuation but also due to lack of certain vitamins and minerals that a women loses during or after pregnancy. Vitamin B complex, specifically folic acid and zinc are two vitamins and minerals frequently lost and their intake is minimum due to unawareness of concepts of balanced diet. Pregnancy hair loss usually develops after 2 to 4 weeks of child birth. Besides pregnancy, lactation is another factor. It is also related to hormones and nutrients like essential amino acids.

Conclusion
Female hair loss is caused by hormonal fluctuation. Teenage, menstrual cycles, menopause, pregnancy, breast feeding and use of anti depressants are biggest factors involved in over production of hormones. Excessive production of these hormones cause follicle deterioration that ultimately leads to hair thinning (alopecia areata) and hair loss (alopecia totalis).