Female Hair Loss Reasons and Treatments

Female hair loss is devastating. To women, much more so than men, their hair is very important to the physical appearance.

Unfortunately female hair loss occurs too often, however, it is not as talked about as much as male hair loss.

Female hair loss may be attributed to a variety of things knowing why hair loss in women occurs may help you in preventing it from occurring.

A major reason that women get thinning hair or even balding patches of the head is because of the hormones, or lack them.

As a woman's body slows down,or stops altogether, the production of hormones the body goes through a number of changes and his includes the growth hair.

o Menopause - The onset of menopause signals the body to begin slowing the production of hormones and due to the reduction of hormones during menopause more than two thirds of post-menopausal women end up with bald spots as a result of the hair loss. Accordingly female hair is best treated through hormone replacement therapy.

Prior to menopause women produce high amounts of estrogen, which acts as a protective barrier from the testosterone that women also produce. As menopause continues the estrogen that was being produced and countering the testosterone, slows and is eventually stops. As a result, the testosterone combines with alpha reductase along with another bodily enzyme to create a chemical called DHT which causes hair loss.

o Hysterectomy - A hysterectomy often presents women with the exact same problems as menopause, for the same reason as menopause, the body stops producing hormones. In a full hysterectomy, the uterus, ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed, other times some of the parts can be saved and the loss of hair is not a problem.

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o Pregnancy - Your could thin or fall out, or, ironical, it could also thicken. Your hair may not only become fuller or thinner, but may also get waves or if your hair is curly, it may become straighter. If your hair does thin or fall out during your pregnancy, it's because of not getting the nutrients your body needs. Without those essential nutrients, your body is unable to produce the amount of estrogen it needs. This is another reason to be taking prenatal vitamins.

Another reason why female hair loss occurs has to do with genetics. If either either your mother or father had thinning hair or was balding, then you are likely to have hair loss, as well.

Other factors to consider are your diet, the nutrients eat and vitamins you take, also too much protein may be behind the problem. Also coloring your hair, highlighting it, bleaching it or using a variety of extra styling products over the years may cause hair loss.

There are treatments for female hair loss that will help the body to metabolize testosterone. Rogaine works both men and women. Another similar treatment is Propecia, although it is usually not recommended for women due to birth defects that it is known to cause. However, your doctor might find that it is okay for you after menopause or a hysterectomy.