Everyday Hair Care

Most people tend to think of it as something that happens to men. But there are experts who believe that radically thinning hair that can come from stress, poor nutrition, an underlying medical condition, harsh hair care treatments, or hereditary, among other causes - is as common in women as it is in men.

It’s estimated that about half of all women over age 40 experience excessive hair loss. For women over age 65 the rate is even higher; about 75% of women in that age group have significant hair loss

Lately, you may have seen a few more hairs in the sink after combing and wonder what’s going on. Or perhaps your scalp appears a little more visible when you come out of the shower. Should you be following a different hair care routine? If you worry that you’re really losing your hair you need to learn more about hair loss in women - what causes it, what it look like and what good hair care tips you need to follow

The most common type of hair loss from the scalp is androgenetic alopecia or AA or pattern baldness. When it happens in men, it’s called male pattern baldness, in women its female pattern baldness. AA accounts for 95% of all cases of head only hair loss and it results when, for reasons science hasn’t identified, hair follicles become sensitive to the hormone androgen

AA is hereditary. If you have a history of the condition on either side of your family, your chance of developing it increases and also influence the age at which your hair loss begins, and its pattern and extent. A family history doesn’t always predict whether or not an individual develops pattern baldness. About 12% of people with AA have no history of it in their families

Although alopecia means baldness, women with AA rarely go completely bald, as some men do. In

most cases a woman’s hair simply thins gradually on the top or all over her head. AA is permanent and continues with aging

You should consult an expert who can help determine why your hair is thinning so you can treat the problem correctly. You should also follow a couple of hair care tips. Don’t be afraid to wash your hair because it does not lead to hair loss, but don’t brush or tease your hair since both can lead to hair loss. It’s best to use a wide toothed comb instead

A style with layers will help your hair look fuller. You can even perm or color your hair, medically, there’s no reason not to. Just avoid a style that can put prolonged tension on your hair or cause it to break, which can lead to further hair loss

The truth is that everyone suffers some form of hair loss. The majority of us loose 50 to 150 hairs a day. Once a hair is lost, a new hair from the same follicle replaces it - unless you have AA. AA occurs when the rate of hair shedding exceeds the rate of hair re- growth, or when the new hair shaft that grows in are thinner than the previous ones, making your hair look less thick

You can experience temporary hair loss that isn’t gradual. Women can experience hair loss during pregnancy when the rise in hormones sends hair into its resting phase, so that hair that would naturally fall out doesn’t. Several months after delivery, hormones return to normal, and some women experience an increase in hair loss. This can last from 1 to 6 months, then it usually corrects itself

Some women also loose hair while talking birth control pills. The reason for this is shifting hormone levels. If this happens to you, talk to your gynecologist about switching to a different Pill or birth control method