It has come to a time where female hair loss is no longer a stranger to society.
There are several common causes of to this unsightly condition.
The most common cause for losing hairs among women is androgenetic alopecia, a genetically-caused cosmetic disorder, which is related to the androgen hormones.
While androgens are related to hair growth, a particular androgen called DHT (dihydrotesterone) is found to be a contributing factor to pattern baldness, hence the term 'alopecia', which refers to hair loss.
In this condition, hair begins to thin in a certain well-defined pattern, as hair follicles have shrunk due to its exposure to DHT.
Both men and women suffer from this condition, although in men's case, its severity leads to baldness, while that rarely happens among women.
Telogen effluvium would be the second common cause for female hair loss.
'Telogen' refers to the third phase of hair growth, which is the resting period where hair follicles fall off to be replaced with new ones.
Meanwhile, 'effluvium' refers to outflow.
Hence, the term 'telogen effluvium' refers to outflows during the telogen phase, where hair follicles are lost before it can be replaced and grown into new hair.
This condition can be caused by physiological stress such as acute illnesses, hormonal changes, allergy, medications, and changes in diet.
Another common cause of female hair loss is alopecia areata.
As mentioned previously, 'alopecia' refers to hair loss.
'Areata', on the other hand, refers to patches.
As the term suggests, this form type comes in patches or areas.
This condition is caused by deficiencies in the immune system, whereby it treats the hair follicles like pathogens, attacking them so they cannot grow.
This attack occurs during the anagen phase of hair growth, which is the hair fiber's active growth phase.
It can occur on other parts of the body other than the scalp.
Should these unsightly conditions be a bane to your life, treatments are available.
Consult your doctor about ways to treat your condition.