Traditionally, hair loss has been considered an issue that mostly affected men over a certain age. It was believed that if women experienced this problem, the condition was infrequent and it was caused by specific medical problems. In fact, according to an article on the Internet site WebMD, hair loss will affect a staggering 50% of women throughout their lifetime. While this number is due to a complex set of factors which can be genetic, environmental and health-related in nature, there is an indication that the genetic factor is foremost among them. Though some attribute female hair loss to such causes as excessive dyeing, or other chemical alterations to hair, there are currently 30 million women in the U.S. who are suffering from hereditary hair loss.
One important difference between the dynamic of hair loss in women as opposed to that in men is that, for most women who suffer from it, hair loss seems to make itself apparent later in life. It most often becomes an issue for women in their 50s and 60s. And because hair loss can be affected by additional physical and psychological factors, detecting the source of the condition can be difficult. Furthermore, the hereditary condition often does not result in hair falling out directly, but in a progressive thinning out of the individual hairs.
A further difference in the experience of hair loss by men and women arises from the different psychological and social impact of the condition on the two genders. While hair loss can be a deeply dissatisfying transition for anyone, men may benefit from increased acceptance, especially since fashion seems to favor the cleanly shaved look.
While available, solutions for advanced female hair loss can be a much more resource-intensive affair, requiring investment in wigs, weaves or hair pieces that cost both money and time. (Here is a candid instance of a female sufferer of hair loss reaching out over the Internet to women in a similar plight.)
But hair loss itself is not final, nor is it intrinsically a bad thing. Less advanced hair loss can be reversed, and, besides, losing hair at a rate of 50 to 100 hairs per day is considered healthy. A moderate amount of shedding is simply part of the hair's natural cycles of change. This figure normally doubles on days when hair is washed. However, when hair is consistently lost in numbers exceeding this range, that may be a sign of an underlying condition which requires the expertise of a physician. Short of actually counting the number of hairs lost each day, the patient can monitor the amount of hair caught in her comb or brush, or on her pillow in the morning. Moreover, thinning and missing hair will become more visible on the top of the scalp, so if you notice changes in that area, it may be time to schedule a consultation.
Hair growth is a complex process, which can be affected by many contributing factors. Besides the genetic preconditions, physical trauma, illness, and stress can also affect the health of your hair follicles, leading to hair loss months after the event itself. The various styling procedures that women apply to their hair — brushing, dying, chemical treatments, driers — do not affect the follicles, and generally only damage the hair fibers themselves. While most often natural hair regrowth can reverse these changes, persistent hair loss may require medical assistance. In such cases, women may need the help of a dermatologist to determine the underlying causes of dramatic hair loss.
Source: Hair loss: not just a man's problem?
Comments
Post a Comment