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What You Need to Know About Hair Loss

Dear Women Over 40,

A persons' mane is considered his or her crowing glory. But once a person experiences hair loss, this is no longer the case.

The majority of women who are going through this problem cannot help but feel shame once they pass through this stage.

Many women try to conceal the loss using wigs or many undergo medical treatments and processes such as hair transplants in order to bring back their “crowning glory.”

Hair loss basics

If you are one of those who is experiencing this problem, it is a must that you know the basics of hair loss to give you an idea of what to do.

The causes of hair loss include heredity, especially if your family has a long history of baldness, taking certain medications for a specific condition and an underlying medical condition that weakens the overall system such as cancer and terminal illnesses.

A woman who is undernourished can also experience hair loss if she is not getting the right nutrients to keep the hair growing normally.

Women who switch hairstyles that place too much pressure on the scalp, may also experience hair loss because the pulling on the hair such as those in braids or dreadlocks can weaken the roots of the hair.

Experts say that it is common for people to lose at least 100 strands of their hair everyday. This is because these strands are meant to be replaced by new set of strands over time.

Women who are losing more than this estimated number of strands should worry that they have greater chances of losing a significant amount of hair.

Accelerated hair loss and thinning hair is most common in women during menopause and perimenopause, due to declining estrogen levels.

As estrogen levels fall, the resulting imbalance between estrogen and testosterone can cause thinning hair on certain areas of the head that are sensitive to androgens, commonly referred to as male pattern baldness.

The same imbalance can also contribute to unwanted hair growth on the chin and face.

Stress is also an issue for women with hair loss. Elevated stress hormones can shock hair follicles into their resting phase, causing hair to fall out at the slightest tug.

Most women experience unremitting stress that doesn’t give the hair follicles the chance to switch back into their active growth phase, leading to thinning hair on the scalp.

Extreme hair loss should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner. Some conditions like thyroid disease can cause dramatic hair loss and need specific treatments.

But in the case of mild to moderate thinning hair, which is usually a result of hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, or elevated stress hormones, most women can get relief naturally — without having to resort to a new hair cut or experiment with hair thickening creams!

The basic approach is to support hair growth at the root by giving your body the support it needs.

Many women find that a nutrient-rich diet, high-quality nutritional supplements and a little stress relief is all it takes to reverse thinning hair.

For women whose hair loss is related to menopause or a more firm hormonal imbalance, a gentle endocrine support in the form of phytotherapy (herbs) may be used. Try a health food store in your area or online.

Women Over 40 Health

SBI!