Thinning of hair, noticeable bald spots, receding hairlines, hairs on the brush, combs, and pillows are typically the signs of hair fall in women. Men typically do not experience such severity of hair loss. however, the gradual changes show a head full of hair transforming slowly towards receding hairline and thinning of hair. This is really depressing! It is very important to diagnose these symptoms and hunt down the actual cause and fix the issue before it is too late. Researchers have found that hair loss in women can occur due to various issues like stress, pollution, heredity, lifestyle and dietary factors and also due to some hormonal imbalance in the body.
A woman undergoes several stages of life from birth to menstruation, sexual life, pregnancy, giving birth to a baby, breastfeeding and ends up to menopause. With these events in life, a woman experiences some hormonal changes within their body. Now the hair follicles which are androgen sensitive may fall off which can clearly indicate the sensitivity of hair follicles to the fluctuation of the hormones.
Reasons for hair loss due to hormonal imbalance:
- Birth control use– Birth control pills or contraceptive pills contain some artificial progesterone that acts like male hormones. This particular hormone is responsible for shrinking and damaging the hair follicles. So when the male hormones are abundant in women body then it may contribute resistance to insulin but also give rise to hair fall issues.
- Low thyroid function- This condition is indicated by hair loss complemented with muscle fatigue, unexplained weight gain, aching joints, dry skin, poor sleep, etc. The hair follicles are sensitive to thyroid hormones and that can cause complications like hair fall in association with other conditions.
- Nutrient deficiencies- The low levels of certain vital nutrients in the body can also give rise to certain hair loss issues. Take for example the deficiencies of vitamin A, E, and iron.
- Chronic inflammation- Androgenic alopecia is a kind of hair loss which occurs when androgen levels are not too high. It usually comes along with inflammation and such condition is called Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. The inflammation occurs in the scalp and makes the hair follicles oversensitive. However, the inflammation can be avoided by taking food products like wheat, dairy, etc.
- Pregnancy, baby birth, and breastfeeding- During and after the pregnancy period the estrogen levels may frequently rise and then fall down rapidly. This sudden fluctuation of the hormonal levels may give rise to create hair loss conditions which are quite natural. The hair fall will gradually decrease when the hormone levels are balanced again. But if the hair fall is accompanied by other serious issues then it is time to find out if other serious issues are prevalent.
Signs of excessive hair shedding:
- A widened partition
- Ponytails becoming thinner
- Receding hairline at the temples
- More hairs on the pillow covers and hairbrushes.
Is there any way to stop it?
There are numerous different factors that can contribute to hair loss, to resolve such issues it is important for the people to consult with any doctor. The doctor may ask to undergo certain tests to determine the thyroid, nutrient and insulin levels. After analysing the condition, doctors may suggest considering a specific dietary and lifestyle changes. Some natural remedies may also be useful to combat the hair fall issues.
Natural remedies to stop hair fall includes making changes in the dietary plan like taking protein-rich foods like soy products, milk, cheese, eggs, chicken. Cashew and flax seeds, mussels are also good sources of protein. Iron deficiencies can also severely affect hairs so foods like shrimps, oysters, lentils, and broccoli, orange must be taken. Other than this, deficiency of zinc, copper may also lead to hair fall so seafood, meats, eggs, cereals and green vegetables must also be taken.
Other than that, surgeons may also recommend their patients to undergo a hair transplant which is a hair restoration procedure. It is a surgical procedure where the surgeon moves hair to a bald area of the head. The surgeon normally collects the donor hairs from the side or back of the scalp and transfers it to the recipient or hair thinning area. The procedure is executed under local anesthesia and it can be performed by utilising two procedure- slit grafts and micrografts. The procedure does not involve a long recovery period or any serious complications. rather the results achieved are most desirable and produces a natural appearance.