Men find it very difficult to come to terms with their falling hair but we can easily imagine how much more difficult it would be for a woman to come to terms with hair loss.

Yet, women also suffer from hair loss, though the hair fall patterns are different from those of men. But it is a fact that women do suffer from hair loss. We will examine here the causes of hair loss in women and its possible treatments.

One of the most common forms of hair loss in women is a general thinning of hair all around the scalp. This condition, which may arise as a reaction to some medicines or due to extreme stress on the body, is called telogen effluvian. This condition arises quite suddenly and there is a general shedding of hair. Generally it gets better on its own, but for some women, it may become a chronic problem.

The hair loss due to telogen effluvian is due to the disturbance of growth cycles of hair. The hair growth passes through two stages – the growth phase and the resting phase. The telogen elluvian arises due to the prolongation of the resting phase. Due to extreme stress or prolonged illness, a large number of hairs may remain in the resting phase. When new hairs start growing they push out the old hair and one witnesses a falling of hair. However, new hairs grow back in three or four months’ time and again there will be a thickening of hair. So this is not a permanent disorder and almost everyone witnesses this phenomenon some time or the other in his or her lifetime.

Another kind of condition relating to hair loss in women is called androgenetic alopecia. This is seen in those women who are genetically pre-disposed to the falling of hair. This is the most common cause of hair fall in men – around 50 percent of the men are prone to hair fall due to this reason alone. Not many women are pre-disposed to hair fall due to this reason, but the ratio increases with age. Around 40% women are affected by androgenetic alopecia over the age of 40. It is also seen that this condition increases in women after the menopause.

Hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia is in fact related to hormonal levels in the body and affects people with high levels of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT as it is more commonly known. DHT causes hair follicles to make gradually thinning hair, which ultimately stops growing altogether. Here too, the pattern of falling hair is different in men and women. In men, the hair loss results in a receding hairline and balding of crown, while in women, there is an all round thinning of hair.

Another cause of falling hair in women is caused by a condition known as alopecia areata. Here white blood cells start attacking hair follicles, which then start getting smaller and smaller. After a few months of the onset of this condition, the hairs stop growing completely. This condition often cures itself and one may witness growing back of hair after some time.

Possible treatments of hair loss include a drug called minoxidil, which comes in the form of a lotion which is applied to the scalp.

This is not a permanent cure and one has to keep on applying it to sustain its results.

Another possible treatment, though somewhat costly, is surgery, which one can resort to if everything else fails. Though this is an option to be considered, one should think over it carefully as this technique is far from perfected at this time.

The perm, tint or bleach, blow dry, back comb, tease, straighten or setting of the hair every day can eventually take its toll. Before we know it we see and feel a brittle mess and in some cases; much to our disbelief and probably to be more truthful; our horror and disbelief. we begin to notice our hair is falling out.

Hair colours or tints can strip the the protective coating of our hair causing the follicles to split or even break. When the hair follicles are damaged in this way there is no going back. The hair follicles cannot repair themselves.

So, what if you have never done any of the above and only shampooed your hair and brushed to get the look that appeals to you?

Some shampoos contain harsh chemicals and detergents which over time can also cause our hair to lack lustre and therefore look dull. Continual use of harsh ingredients can have the same outcome as the hair colours or tints.

Vigorous brushing in attempt to make you hair look shiny because of some old wives tale advocating so many brushes a day will make your locks glow can also cause more damage. Excessive brushing or combing has an abrasive effect on the hair follicles causing hair breakage.

It is not only our efforts to look great which can impact on our hair.

Weather can damage the hair as well, in particular the regions where it is hot. It is common in Australia to see beach-goers with sun-bleached hair. This is a combination of the hair being exposed not only to the sun but the salt in seawater or the chlorine from swimming pools.

Some prescription medications and antibiotics, especially if required to be taken over the long term can cause hair loss. There is a certain irony in this isn’t there? Taking a medication or undergoing treatment in order to cure an illness or disease and unfortunately one of the costs of doing so can be hair loss.

So all the while if your intentions to look good have been the cause of hair loss, all is not entirely lost. While you may be paying the price now there are possibilities for re-growth and I am positive you will want to know more about this choice for you. I take personal interest in researching and writing about Hair Loss. Please feel welcome to visit my website at http://www.banish-baldness.com/ for further helpful information.