Hair Loss In Women

A staggering 60% of the female population suffer with hair loss of varying degrees, this causes untold amounts of anxiety on behalf of the sufferer as social opinion in general only regards hair loss as being a male problem. This is quite wrong, over half of The Hair Clinic clients are female.

The most common type of hair loss experienced amongst women is female androgenic alopecia or female pattern baldness, this is a condition of genetic origin and predominately involves the hair follicles through the upper part of the scalp, the follicles here are hyper-sensitive to the male type hormones found normally in the body. This condition causes a gradual reduction in hair growth over a long period of time. If this pattern should occur before mid-thirties and if it accompanies an increase in facial and/or body hair growth then specific blood tests are required to find out if an underlying hormone imbalance is present. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common medical condition that can easily bring on androgenic scalp hair loss in predisposed young women.

The Hair Clinic trichological treatments can be used to help manage and improve this condition, preparations advised would be topical anti-androgen therapy. These topical solutions help reduce the negative impact the male hormones have on the hair follicles, they prolong the hair growth cycle and in turn help strengthen hair growth. This treatment requires trichological supervision throughout.

Another common hair loss problem amongst women is telogen effluvium, this results in visible heavy hair shedding. Levels of shedding often reach their peak at around three months but hair density can be around 40% less by this time. Hair re-growth is possible when shedding returns to normal but a trichologist needs to help you find the cause of the condition to ensure hair re-growth and to ensure the condition doesn’t become chronic. One of the biggest causes of chronic telogen effluvium is iron deficiency, a trichologist will run through blood tests with you and will inform you of the recommended levels of free iron and iron stores that are required for optimum hair growth. Diet recommendations will be made and trichological products dispensed to help build hair health.

Child birth brings on a telogen effluvium reaction as well, the sudden drop in female hormone levels after childbirth can result in a temporary hair shedding condition three months later. This isn’t usually a huge problem it’s just that the high female hormone levels during the remaining three to four months of pregnancy aid the retention of the hairs that are normally shed on a daily basis, it is therefore a game of catch-up. However, ladies with androgenic alopecia usually require trichological advice throughout post partum hair loss and are often recommended trichological treatment during this time to ensure healthy hair growth.

Extreme shock, yo-yo dieting and some types of medication can all bring on hair loss in women. Always seek professional advice as soon as you suspect a hair change, there is plenty of trichological help to be obtained. When consulting with Vanessa Bailey at The Hair Clinic for the first time, remember to bring along any blood test results taken over the last three year period and a list of all prescribed medication taken now and over the last three year period, including hormone-type contraceptive information and hormone replacement therapy information.

All wording by Vanessa Bailey MIT FRSPH author of The Good Hair Guide: All Your Questions Answered.

www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Hair-Guide

All consultations and check-ups at The Hair Clinic are FREE.

Call today on 020 7224 4640 to book an appointment for a Trichological consultation or click here to complete an enquiry form.