Common Causes of Female Hair Loss, Symptoms and How to Stop It

Regardless of the current news, products and resources made available for male hair loss, female hair loss is still a serious issue for many women in the United States.  Many women notice the obvious signs - more hair on their brush, hair on their pilow or more strands in the tub, but how does it happen?

What are the causes for female hair loss, and are there other symptoms beyond the above? We'll discuss the most common causes and symptoms, as well as a few effective solutions.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss, refers to a genetic disposition to the condition. The gene that causes hair loss can be inherited by either the paternal or maternal side of the family. If both parents have suffered from hair loss, there is a very high chance you will as well.

DHT, or dihydroxytestestorone, is an enzyme that can attach itself to the hair follicles of those genetically sensntive to them, and can cause female pattern baldness.

Women with androgenetic alopecia start to notice thinning around the frontal crown area. It tends to recede outward, eventually revealing more of the scalp at the crown. This can start as early as in your 20s. It's believed that wearing tight hairstyles (think ballet dancers) can exacerbate the issue.

A dermatologist can conduct tests, checking the pattern of the receding hair and the hair follicles to determine if your particular cause of hair loss is hereditary.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is unique to women as it refers to hair loss that can happen after pregnancy, but it can also occur during high stress, after major surgery, crash diets, or during severe weight loss. Telogen effluvium can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The term telogen refers to the resting phase of the hair follicle, which usually lasts around 3 months. When you're not stressed out, a normal amount of hair (about 50-100 a day) falls out during this shedding process. However, when your body is put under extreme duress, as much as 70% of your hair can fall out prematurely.

Women will typically notice more hair loss up to 3 months after a stressful event. At the height of stress, you may notice handfuls of hair easily fall out.

How to resolve this? Outside of determining what major or stressful issue in your life is responsible, you can ease anxiety by taking more breaks or time off from your normal duties, or ask your doctor about alternate forms of medication. For issues such as pregnancy or surgery, you may just need to wait it out, or take a safe topical solution. For diet related hair loss, get proper nutrition, whether through supplements or by eating the right foods.

Abnormal Scalp Conditions

The health of your scalp also plays a big role in preventing hair loss. Dandruss, fungal infections from an overly oily scalp, and psoriasis can all play a part in female hair loss.

Dandruff makes its face known easily - you'll find visible greasy, yellow flakes on your shoulders and hair. A common cause of this is the malassezia fungus, which can also develop from an overly oily scalp. Psoriasis causes too much skin turnover, and you'll notice a thick, white scale on your scalp that, if pulled off, can bleed.

How do you combat these very common causes of female hair loss?

Regardless of the cause, MD® has the answer. Our wide range and exclusive line of hair restoration for women have helped those suffering from female hair loss by quickly and painlessly delivering benefits at the source, often revealing results in a matter of weeks. Our products work for any age, any ethnicity and any hair type.

MD® is the brainchild of Dr. Susan F. Lin, M.D., a specialist and practicisng physician with over 21 years of experience in women's health, beauty,  aesthetics and anti-aging medicine. Dr. Lin's focus is on hair and skin regeneration, as well as developing MD®’s patented Hair Growth technology.

We use active ingredients such as lilac extract, mandelic acid, cytokines, and peptides to gently nourish thinning hair and promote more hair growth. Get thicker, fuller hair naturally by using MD® products to block the DHT enzyme, halt an oily scalp, kill the fungus that causes dandruff, and sooth an inflamed scalp- in turn, slowing or even halting female hair loss.

Visit MD® today and learn more about our revolutionary products targeted specifically for hair loss. Ask about our 30 day challenge!