Female Hair Thinning Problem

There is a lot of hair on my brush, am I thinning? Let's discuss the female hair thinning problem.

On average, females may shed anywhere from 40-100 hairs a day. So if you see some hair on your brush or in the shower, don’t panic. Chances are you are shedding the normal amount. Keep in mind that if you have long hair, it may appear that you are shedding more than you actually are. If your hair is experiencing a thinning problem, don’t feel like you’re the only one losing hair. Female hair loss is the best kept secret. For women, 20-40% of the population are affected by alopecia. Yikes! That's nearly half of the female population!

(photo: http://femalepatternhair-loss.com/)

Female Hair Thinning Problem: The Cause
Female hair thinning is a result of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. For example, the number of Chinese affected by pattern baldness is only half that of their Caucasian counterparts. As you age, your hair follicles shrink. So if your hair appears thin, it’s just a part of life. Even celebrities can't get out of this. It has been reported that actress Kate Beckinsale (lower left) and Brit Victoria Beckham (lower right) are struggling with hair loss - just like the rest of us.

Other causes of hair loss: physical stress, emotional stress, medication, hormonal changes, chemotheraphy.

Hair loss is associated with hair follicles exposure to hormones, specifically, testosterone and DHT. Testosterone is converted to DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. Once DHT is formed, it can interact with androgen receptors found in hair follicles. This association lowers follicle activity, shrinks the hair follicles, which then slows the hair growth cycle, and eventually leads to a reduction of hair growth. For females, the source of androgen is generated from the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Thus, hair loss is often associated with pregnancy and menopause and their effects.  However, this phenomenon does not occur equally on all parts of your scalp, thus, thinning is observed only on specific regions of your head.

Female Hair Thinning Problem: Will perming my hair cause hair loss?
This is a common myth. Permanent hair loss is NOT caused by perms, colors, and other chemical treatments. This also applies to shampooing your hair too often.

Here are several common female hair loss myths:

• Permanent hair loss is caused by perms, colors, and other chemical treatments
• Shaving your head will cause hair to grow back thicker
• Dandruff causes permanent hair loss
• Stress causes permanent hair loss
• Hair loss does not occur in the late teens
• Smoking causes hair loss – though this myth is attractive, little scientific data supports this statement.

With that being said, perming your hair can cause temporary hair loss (not permanent).  Anytime you apply chemicals into your hair, you are changing the molecular structure and characteristic of your hair. As a result, the deformed hair will be more fragile (brittle) and can easily break. Also, be careful not to apply chemicals (relaxer, perming solution, dye, etc) to the scalp. These chemicals may destroy the hair shaft and irritate the skin. In extreme cases, permanent damage to your hair follicles may occur, which will result in irreversible hair loss. Thus, if you constantly use rollers and roll your hair into tight curls, you are inducing stress to your hair. The same applies to heat style. Introducing heat stress to your hair will damage it and cause it to become more brittle and fragile. In summary, hair styling and hair treatments do not cause hair loss if done properly and sparingly.

Female Hair Thinning Problem: Tips to Protect Your Hair

• Apply chemicals to hair and not to your scalp
• Use minimal tension when styling hair
• Wear large, loose braids
• Use products with glycerin and not mineral oil or petroleum
• Use a mild relaxer at home
• Avoid applying chemicals to your hair when possible

Female Hair Thinning Problem: What are styling tips to conceal hair loss?Go short. Long hair draws attention to your hair loss. When choosing a hair cut, select a style that is above the shoulder. Your hair may be a little longer if you select a wavy or curly style. Get a graduated or blunt layer style to add more volume to your hair.  The best way to disguise hair loss is adopting a zigzag part and let the layers fall naturally. If this isn't your style, try combing your hair straight back if you are thinning at the top. Avoid using gel alone. This tends to clump hair together and emphasize your thinning hair.

Female Hair Thinning Problem: How to Fix the Hair Loss
Don't panic, you have many options. If you have minimal thinning, cosmetic enhancements such as hair thickeners can be a blessing. Hair thickeners are products that add additional thickness to your hair and gives the illusion of thicker, fuller hair. Keep in mind that these products are for cosmetic purposes only and are not meant to treat hair loss. Examples of hair thickening product are Kerasome, Toppik, Couvre, Fullmore, Dermatch, Morebody, and Top Brass (in no particular order).

In recent years, several FDA approved topical products have been shown to promote hair regrowth, though the effect is slow and short lived. It takes on average over six months to work and once you stop using it, the effect will stop. Example of such products are Rogaine and Provillus. If you are interested in using any of these methods of treatment, please consult with a physician.

Thanks to modern techology and scientific research, hair loss is treatable. Doctors can implant, acutally transplant, hair follicles into the region on your head experiencing hair loss. This may be time consuming and a burden to your wallet.

In this article, we've tried to address the concerns of the female hair thinning problem. Please share your hair thinning experience and tips in our forum.

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1. Hair Care Secret

2. Hair Loss & Miracle Cures

3. Why Is My Hair Thinning?

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