There are various types of hair loss in women and men and while some of them can be medically reduced, some remains irremediable. Women are now more vulnerable to premature hair loss because of extensive use of cosmetic hair care, hair styling products that weakens the hair follicle. Let us introduce some of the most prominent types of hair loss in women.
Hair loss is globally one of the commonest chronic problems suffered by millions of individuals, both men and women. According to the contributing factors and medical conditions there are various types of hair loss in women and men and while some of them can be medically treated, some remains irremediable. Hair loss relates to loosing social esteem, self confidence and other behavioral problems relating to self appearance and look and a great majority of victims of hair loss suffer from them. Hair loss primarily is caused by the natural process of ageing, but when one begins to shed hair prematurely at an early age it becomes a medical concern. A growing number of people nowadays are now suffering from premature hair loss thanks to an array of lifestyle factors. Women are now more vulnerable to premature hair loss because of extensive use of cosmetic hair care, hair styling products that weaken the hair follicle and make large numbers of hair strands to enter the resting phase at a time which is then followed by hair loss and hair thinning. Let us introduce here some of the most prominent types of hair loss in women.
How women lose hair?
More than men hair loss causes catastrophic range of problems in women both at personal and social level. By losing hair women become vulnerable to lose their sensual side of personality which is intrinsic to women, especially of younger women or women who still did not enter the older age group. Hair loss in women is readily perceived as a sign of premature ageing and is attached with a deplorable social stigma that makes women suffer more than men. Though the contributing factors or clinical factors responsible for the types of hair loss in women may be different in some cases, the hair life cycle changes happen in the same way in both men and women. Every strand of hair has a designated life cycle at the end of which the hair is shed automatically. The first phase of this cycle is called Anagen which is an active growth phase lasting for 2 to 6 years. Then the second phase is called Catagen a typical short spanned growth phase lasting for 2 to 3 weeks only. The last phase is called Telogen, a resting phase of hair lasting for 2 to 3 months at the end of which hair sheds. So, when higher density of hair enters the resting phase and consequently shed it causes thinning of hair and hairless patches to appear on the scalp.
Different types of hair loss in women
According to the different types and nature of medical condition pertaining to Alopecia or hair loss problem, it is differentiated into array of syndromes. There are different types of hair loss in women with varied syndromes and corresponding contributing factors.
Women pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia
Androgenic alopecia or pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss problem in women. A majority of the premature hair loss victims in women suffer from this disorder. According to the researchers, Dehydro-testosterone or DHT, a variation of male sex hormone testosterone is the main culprit responsible for pattern baldness in both men and women. DHT is found in women as well though in less concentration than in men and helps to shrink and clog the hair follicles resulting in hair loss and baldness. Women pattern baldness generally starts at the top of the scalp and then gradually thins the hair on other areas. In women pattern baldness becomes more noticeable and common after the menopause. Women pattern baldness can also be found running in families as it can be transmitted genetically.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is a type of alopecia or hair loss problem in woman that can be characterized by small and bald patches on the scalp. This type of hair loss problem in both men and women are found mostly at their teens. The clinical reason corresponding to this disorder is considered to be the immune system malfunction. In most of the cases hair growth returns in the hairless patches within a few month as the disease is known to cause no permanent damage to the hair follicles.
Telogen Effluvium
This is one of the common types of hair loss in women resulting in aggravated rate of hair shedding and consequent thinning of hair. As we have seen Telogen is the resting phase of the hair life cycle and hair entering this phase last only a couple of months and then shedding begins. So if a large number of hairs at a time get into this resting phase before falling off, it fast results in hair loss and thinning of hair. Telogen Effluvium in women can be aggravated with several lifestyle effects like stress, fever, childbirth, severe weight loss or medical reaction.
Anagen Effluvium
This type of hair loss normally occurs following any damage to the hair follicle that disturbs the metabolism of hair follicle or hair root. Anagen Effluvium typically occurs due to certain medical reactions like chemotherapy. Chemotherapy normally is known to affect the rapidly dividing cancer cells in the body and consequently this also affects the hair follicles of rapid growth phase called Anagen. This is the reason why it is observed that with the chemotherapy taking effect almost a majority of the hair in the growth phase falls out causing severe hair loss.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is the hair loss problem that is mainly caused by the localized strain on the hair roots or hair follicles. Hair styling, rigorous hair brushing, cosmetic procedures like straightening of hair or changing the hair patter by subjecting them to heat can cause the hair follicles to get strained enough and consequently damaged.