Home » Blog » Hair Transplant Women » What Are The Different Types of Women’s Hair Loss?

What Are The Different Types of Women’s Hair Loss?

Hair loss isn’t just a male issue. Studies show that over 50% of women experience hair loss at some point.

Unexpected heavy loss of hair, more than the normal natural amount can seem like a huge and insurmountable challenge – especially for women who take pride in their luscious locks and combine femininity with their hair.

It affects both appearance and emotions. Various factors contribute to hair loss in women. Discover the causes and treatments.

Summary

---

1. The Hair-Raising Truth About Hair Loss in Women
2. Most Common Causes of Hair Loss
3. How Does Elithair Treat Women’s Hair Loss?

The Hair-Raising Truth About Hair Loss in Women

What is it?

Hair loss is a normal part of a woman’s life, but when it speeds up noticeably, it raises alarm bells.

In order to calm that panic down, we have created a holistic analysis of the types of female hair loss, causes and possible treatments. We want you to have all the weapons you need to tackle the physiological and psychological outcomes of this condition.

How Common is Hair Loss in Women

Sorry ladies, hair loss is a harsh reality for over 50 % women over the age of 50, and in fact, there are many types of causes behind female hair loss. Contrary to popular belief, hair loss is not a male-only issue. In fact, we find an increasing number of female patients at our clinic in Turkey over the years.

For women, the main reason for hair transplantation requests is usually the greater pressure they face regarding hair beauty standards. To put it plainly:

Being a man with no hair is easier within society than being a woman without hair.

In fact, studies suggest that women are more likely to go into depression owing to early onset of medical hair complications, although further research is needed for a more comprehensive evaluation.

Most Common Causes of Hair Loss

Peering into the world of hair loss, a clear contrast emerges in the triggers for women compared to men.

Hormonal imbalances and gender-specific factors like pregnancy and nutritional deficiencies take the lead in female hair loss. Here is a spotlight on the most common causes.

Trigger	Effect
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA)	A hereditary condition that causes the hair follicles to become smaller and produce thinner hair. It is the most common cause of hair loss in women, affecting about 50% of women over the age of 50.
Telogen effluvium	A temporary form of hair loss that can be caused by stress, illness, or medication. It is often triggered by a major life event, such as childbirth, surgery, or a sudden change in diet.
Thyroid problems	Both hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause hair loss.
Nutritional deficiencies	Iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, and zinc deficiency can all lead to hair loss.
Medications	Some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs and anti-thyroid drugs, can cause hair loss as a side effect.
Medical conditions	Some medical conditions, such as alopecia areata, lupus, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can also cause hair loss.

Female Pattern Hair Loss: The Greatest Menace

---

Causes

A genetic menace for hair, androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness) is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women. Family history of hair loss from both parents side effects the probability game of developing this condition.

Imagine a Christmas tree pattern on your scalp – this is what life with androgenetic alopecia typically looks like in women. While with male pattern baldness the hairline recedes starting at the temples, with women the hair thins along the top of the head.

Luckily, women typically encounter hair loss around 40 to 50, unlike men who might start experiencing it after puberty. Hormonal changes, especially during menopause, steer this process. As estrogen diminishes, it intensifies the focus on hair loss.

This may lead to elevated chances of stress and intricate emotional triggers. Unless someone takes action to stop it, this vicious cycle intensifies over time.

Treatments

Talking about actions, defence is the best offence in this game. Spotting androgenic alopecia early is vital, as it’s a long-lasting condition which needs prompt treatment.

Minoxidil, or Rogaine as it is also known, can cause hair loss to slow down and promote growth. However, the medication needs to be taken continuously in order to see results. Side effects also cause irritation to the scalp and dryness.

Low level laser therapy additionally has seen positive results, but again needs to be done in regular sessions and not a one-time thing. 

A hair transplant surgery for women provides lasting result in just a single session. By removing hair from the healthy donor area to the thinning region, new healthy hair can grow, providing a natural result. 

Alopecia Areata

---

Causes

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition which results in bald patches on your head as the immune system attacks and kills the hair follicles. Female celebrities haven’t been immune to this mischievous condition either; many have stepped up to share their encounters.

Alopecia’s favorite mode of attack is patchy hair loss, with an added threat of sudden appearance. A unique symptom is that the bald spots appear without any redness or scarring, marking a clear distinction from other types of women’s hair loss. 

Of course, it goes without saying that in order to diagnose alopecia areata, it’s important to seek medical advice. This condition might be associated with other autoimmune conditions like vitiligo and thyroid diseases.

In order to ascertain your condition, a doctor may use a dermascope to examine the surface of the skin or in some cases take a scalp biopsy.

Treatment

Hair regrowth is a dance of patience: it takes 6 months to a year, with patches of loss sometimes making surprise returns. Minoxidil offers a temporary fix, while corticosteroids combat the body’s follicle attack, fostering regrowth.

The big drawback? – Potential side effects and the need to continue it potentially indefinitely for results.

In cases of severe alopecia, a hair transplant is the lasting solution. With innovative methods like the SDHI technique, Elithair promises enduring results of strong, vibrant hair.

Telogen Effluvium

---

Causes

The resting phase for hair growth is an important regenerative step. However, what happens when hair stays too long in this stage? Telogen effluvium is the name of this sudden hair loss condition that packs a surprising punch. There is ambiguity behind the core reasons, but studies suggest a strong relation to unexpected physical stress as the trigger.

Going through troubling times in life is stress enough, but the way this condition attacks is by creating physiological results with sudden hair loss during follicular resting periods – hitting below the belt when the hair is resting, so to speak!

Grief, mental illness and loss are huge triggers for anyone, but with a resulting hair loss, it adds salt to the wound. With a toxic combination of thyroid medications and or blood pressure/birth control pills, it can get aggravated even further.

The first sign of trouble in hair paradise reflects itself on the nails.  

While it can be difficult to spot, the hair loss generally happens 2-4 months after the inciting incident. When more hairs are in the resting phase than in the growing phase, extensive hair shedding and sudden hair loss in women can occur.

Treatments

Telogen effluvium can last for as long as 6 to 8 months before resolving. Once we address the underlying issue, the hair can regrow. However, bridging the gap between loss and regrowth may prove challenging. Here, short term solutions can be helpful in order to help hair grow faster, including micro needling and PRP treatment.

There are also topical hair products which can help with regrowing hair such as Dr. Balwi Shampoo for hair loss in women which can stimulate the hair follicles.

Anagen Effluvium

---

Causes

Another type of sudden women’s hair loss is where you can lose hair in the growth phase, also known as anagen effluvium. Here it’s usually easier to understand what causes hair loss in women as it is due to toxic substances which poison the hair follicles causing them to fall out.

Most commonly, we observe this in medical conditions where patients are undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The sudden hair loss can happen anywhere on your body and often occurs very soon after cancer treatment has begun.

Treatments

While hair can regrow following the end of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the hair loss can be permanent if the hair follicles become damaged. Minoxidil can help with regrowth following cancer treatment until the hair naturally regrows. Scalp cooling during chemotherapy has provided good results in reducing hair loss as a result of the treatment. 

Permanently damaged hair follicles require a hair transplant for lasting regrowth in that area. Our techniques target both specific, accurate hair regrowth on the hairline and providing dense results on top of the head for fuller hair.

Traction Alopecia

---

Causes

Another one of the reasons for hair loss in women can also be caused by the wearing of hair in a tight hairstyle, this is known as traction alopecia. Styling your hair in certain hairstyles which put a strain on the follicles include tight buns, braids, and hair extensions. 

Severe cases can lead to cicatricial or frontal fibrosing alopecia due to tight hairstyles, causing inflammation, irritation, and itching. In this case, Inflammation can scar the area and permanently damage hair follicles, preventing future growth.

Treatment

You may be advised to change your hairstyle in order to reverse the hair loss, although this is not an option for some people for personal or religious reasons. Supplements can aid in promoting hair health, particularly those containing biotin and keratin.

Oral and topical medications are helpful in aiding hair regrowth but need consistent use for positive results. Especially because hair can fall out again once stopped. 

In severe instances, an early-diagnosed hair transplant might be required for a lasting solution, particularly with cicatricial alopecia.

Post-Partum Hair Loss: Journey After Pregnancy

---

Giving birth is an amazing process, but for new mothers, things can come across as a twist: postpartum hair loss. This deceptive phenomenon gets further complicated though when suddenly, after the baby is born, women start losing hair.

Known as post-partum hair loss, you might notice the once-shiny, healthy hair from pregnancy now thinning or shedding.

This happens primarily as effects of pregnancy, because hormones changes during that time, halting natural hair loss. Oestrogen being the key hormone here. It is the excess hair gained during pregnancy that falls out along with regular hair-shedding, making it appear like a large amount of hair loss.

How Does Elithair Treat Women’s Hair Loss?

---

Whether it's due to genetics or shock, when it comes to how to treat hair loss in women, there are different approaches that are required. The umbrella of hair loss effects both men and women, but for women this has different underlying causes.

From hormones, to different patterned hair-loss and pregnancy - when it comes to women, hair loss is a different ball-game.

Moreover, females experience the psychological factors of hair loss in a different way than men, with possibly different psychological impacts.

If you identify as female and choose to go the route of hair transplant as a permanent solution, Elithair is on hand. Get in touch with our experts for your non-binding consultation.