What Causes Excessive Hair Shedding in Females?
Thick, luscious hair is highly sought after, especially among females. Perhaps it's because, as females, our hair is our crowning glory. So, when excessive shedding comes into play, it can be downright devastating for any woman's self-esteem and self-confidence. When you notice extra hair in your brush or clumps of hair on your bathroom floor, we're sure your first question is "why?" If you want to know what might be causing it, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll reveal several causes of excessive hair shedding in females. Let's get right into it!
Hormonal Changes
Hormones play an important role in regulating our bodies, including our hair growth cycle. When hormones fluctuate or become imbalanced due to stress or illness, they can cause the hair follicles to enter the resting phase and stop producing new hairs. This can lead to excessive shedding.
Hormone-related changes are common during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as after giving birth or having surgery. If hair shedding is related to hormones, you may see your hair return to its previous state after your hormone levels stabilize or fall back into a normal range. Though, this isn’t guaranteed.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Just as eating healthy is important for keeping your body in good shape, it also helps maintain beautiful, healthy-looking locks. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron and vitamin B, can cause excessive shedding. Additionally, many studies have shown that protein plays an important role in hair growth and the overall health of the scalp. Without the building blocks your body needs to grow and maintain healthy hair, you could experience shedding. Eating a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals is key for keeping your locks looking lush, shiny, and strong.
Stress
We all know that stress can take a toll on our mental health and well-being, but did you know it could also affect your hair? Stress is one of the most common causes of excessive shedding in females. When we're under pressure, hormones like cortisol are released into the blood stream, which can cause the hair follicles to stop producing new hairs and enter the resting phase. This can result in a sudden surge of shedding, which is known as telogen effluvium.
If you're dealing with high levels of stress, it's important to take steps to manage it before the issue gets worse. Consider talking to a counselor, taking up yoga or meditation, and getting regular exercise to reduce stress and anxiety.
Hereditary Risks
Female pattern baldness, otherwise known as androgenic alopecia (AGA), is a type of inherited hair loss that affects millions of women worldwide. It is caused by genetic disturbances and hormone sensitivity and usually results in thinning at the top of the head, which progresses over time.
While there is no cure for AGA, there are treatments available that can help slow down the progression of the condition. Some of the most common treatments used for this condition include prescription drugs like spironolactone and minoxidil. People experience varying levels of success with these drugs.
Lifestyle Choices
Certain lifestyle choices can also contribute to excessive hair shedding in females. Knowing about them can help you avoid situations that increase your risk of shedding hair. These include:
- Crash diets
- Frequent hair styling
- High manipulation styles like extension braids and weaves
- Vigorous brushing or combing
- Smoking cigarettes
When There's No Obvious Explanation
If you're experiencing excessive hair shedding and none of the above apply to your case, it's important to speak with a licensed healthcare professional. They can help rule out any potential underlying medical conditions such as alopecia areata, lupus, thyroid disorders or anemia. We hope this article has given you some insight you can use. Good luck!
Author: Andrea Reyes
Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.
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