Causes of hair loss in women, and how to save hair

Beautiful thick hair - one of the main decorations of women.

That's why most women panic at the first signs of increased hair loss. And these fears are not unfounded: the last time with this serious problem faced by more and more women, regardless of age.

If male pattern baldness usually occurs in a specific, genetically laid age, the female excessive hair loss can begin at almost any age. Even in the 15-16 year-old girls can suddenly manifest hair loss. Overall, according to estimates, this problem one way or another affects every fourth Russian woman.

Of course, a certain amount of hair falls out daily in all (median 100 hairs a day), so that there is always excess hair on the comb indicating their excessive loss. Nevertheless, this should be treated with great care and do cosmetic prevention.

Effective treatment of hair loss can result in preventive measures, unless there are serious reasons that can cause it. Why hair suddenly start to fall over? To answer this question, we must first know a little about how hair grows.

Interrupting the cycle of growth

Experts say that hair grows by about 0, 7-1, 2 cm each month. Overall, the active life of each individual hair (when it is growing) range from two to six years. Having reached this age, hair a little longer "holds" on the head and then falls, and from its follicles begin to grow new hair.

And the cycle goes on constantly - usually up to the elderly person. Although with age the life cycle of hair is gradually decreasing. Age-related thinning hair - involutional alopecia - is absolutely normal and does not require treatment.

However, some people - a genetic predisposition to hair loss - this interferes with the natural cycle of a group of hormones called androgens under, these include, for example, testosterone, and some other hormones. All these hormones are produced in large quantities in the male body and a small amount - in the women's.

In people with a genetic predisposition to this testosterone comes into contact with enzymes in the follicle and becomes more powerful androgen DHT, which is deeply embedded in the follicular receptors and accumulate over time changes and stops hair growth. Some follicles simply die, while others atrophy and become unable to make or maintain healthy hair .

The end result - baldness or a condition known medically as androgenetic alopecia. Medical or cosmetic treatment of androgenic alopecia is not effective because the hair does not grow without the follicles and follicles are absent. From atrophied follicle in rare cases due to the impact of medicines can grow hair, but this hair is very thin and weak.

The most effective in this case - hair transplantation. With androgenic alopecia hair loss in women is usually all over the head, with the greatest intensity on the top, while in men it focuses on the temples, the top, the front of the head. For decades, doctors believed that androgenic alopecia is the main cause of baldness in both men and women.

Who proved another - at least against women. Hair loss in men and women is due to different reasons. Some of them are associated with an excess of testosterone, some - not. Unlike men, who may start already bald twenties, female androgenetic alopecia manifestations usually begin until 40 years.

Other causes of hair loss in women

Causes of hair loss in women may be related to health and the adverse impact of environmental factors: stress, disturbed environment, radiation, uncontrolled receiving medications, chemotherapy and sometimes improper care. Female hormones (estrogens), in contrast to the male hormone androgen, increases the life cycle of hair.

In humans, there are two types of hormones, the predominance of one over the other is different in men and women. During menopause the level of estrogen decreases, and against this background the influence of androgen is becoming more noticeable: life expectancy hair cut, hair starts to fall out. After delivery, the content of estrogen in the body also decreases sharply, which negatively affects the growth of hair.

The life cycle of the hair is reduced, and they can begin to fall simultaneously in large amounts. But usually some time after childbirth functions are restored follicles. Some autoimmune diseases may cause a problem known as alopecia areata - slight inflammatory process in which individual strands of hair fall or only in certain areas.

Most often this disease occurs in children and adolescents. Hair can even fall out completely, but after a few years, especially after proper treatment in 90% of cases grow again. Excessive hair loss can cause the drugs used in the treatment of tumors, anticoagulants, retinoids used in the treatment of skin diseases, drugs, controlling blood pressure, and oral contraceptives.

Hair loss can cause anemia, thyroid disorders and certain chronic diseases. Very often women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, hair loss is his only obvious symptom. Therefore, before embarking on the treatment of hair, so you need to establish the correct diagnosis.

Though apply masks and other cosmetics can and for prevention. Contrary to popular belief, too frequent washing of hair, perming and coloring does not lead to baldness, if for no other reason. Their improper use may loosen and thin the hair.

But in most cases, as soon as the reason for this stress is removed hair, their normal growth restored. Although serious injuries with scarring alopecia some areas may remain in the future.