Reason of Hair Fall in Female

There are many potential reasons of hair fall in females including medical conditions, medications and stress (both physical and emotional). Female pattern baldness (FPB) is primarily triggered by hormonal imbalances in the body. Conditions such as anaemia, thyroid, ovarian cysts (PCOS) or menopause are some of the triggers of hair loss. A decrease in normal levels of estrogen (female hormone) and increase of testosterone (male hormone) levels in the body is a major cause of hairfall in women. The other reason of hair fall in females is genetics. This problem tends to run in families and is passed on from one generation to the other.

The following are the reasons for hair loss in women explained in detail:

Pregnancy and childbirth:

During pregnancy, oestrogen levels increase and reduce drastically post-delivery, becoming a reason of hair fall in females. This phenomenon moves the hair from the growing phase (anagen phase) to the falling phase (telogen phase) disrupting the hair growth cycle. New mothers are advised to give it time till the baby turns one, as hair loss tends to cease by then. This is because the usual hair growth cycle is restored by that time. In case of persistent hair loss, it is imperative to understand the underlying causes of hairfall in women like iron deficiency, poor nutrition or poor circulation.

Genetics:

The primary reason of hair fall in females is heredity. Women are prone to suffer from a hair problem if their maternal or paternal side of the family had it. Due to this hair loss reason, females experience widening of the hair partition and thinning hair.

Crash dieting:

Excessive dieting (especially mono dieting) disturbs the balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; becoming a major reason of hair fall in females. Even when the patient gets back on a normal diet, hair loss may not be reversed in many cases.

Oral contraceptives:

Certain oral contraceptives with synthetic progesterone can be a reason of hair fall in females. Even after stopping the use of oral contraceptives, women may experience excessive hair loss if used for a long period of time.

Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism:

The thyroid gland helps regulate the body's metabolism by controlling the production of proteins. Hair is composed of a protein called keratin that is produced in the hair follicles. Therefore, any imbalance in the thyroid hormones can be a reason of hair fall in females.

PCOS:

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a major reason of hair fall in females. The male hormones (androgens) are excessively present in women suffering from PCOS. This may result in unwanted hair growth on the face and other parts of the body. It can also lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a higher risk of diabetes and even infertility. Effective treatment of any hormonal imbalance can help in reducing hair fall.

Poor nutrition:

This is one of the most common reasons of hair fall in females, especially in India. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, iron deficiency (anaemia) tops the list followed by protein deficiency as the leading hair loss in women cause.

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