Hair Guide

Hair Loss in Women

Hair loss is a part of everyday life. The average person loses between 40 and 120 strands a day. While hair loss is extremely common there are factors that affect the amount you lose daily. Age, diet, hair re-growth rate, and the amount of hair you have on your head are all factors that affect your loss rate.

Age

Your age is a definite factor in the amount of hair loss that occurs. As you age, you begin to lose more hair daily. When a woman goes through menopause her hair begins to thin. This process stops eventually and the woman's hair remains, simply thinner than before menopause. With men, the thinning process does not stop. The hair loss simply continues until the man has lost at least part of the hair he had originally.

Diet

Diet can affect the amount of hair you lose, especially when the nutrients you take in are considered. Most doctors agree the an iron deficiency is a direct cause of hair loss. If you notice that your hair loss has increased, you may want to consult your doctor about a possible lack of iron in your diet.

Hair Regrowth Rate

Everyone's hair regrowth rate is slightly different. Even that one person's unique regrowth rate changes as they age. If you have a slow regrowth rate, it's likely that you won't shed very much. If you have a high regrowth rate, you will shed more than the average person.

Amount of Hair you Started With

The amount of hair people start out with varies. Some people are born with full heads of hair, while others don't have any hair for months! Obviously, the amount of hair you have in the beginning, the more likely you are to lose hair.

Other Factors that Affect Hair Loss

There are more factors that affect hair loss than just those listed above. Pregnancy and illness are more obvious factors, while other people feel that seasonality can have an affect.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes a shift in hormones. While everything is changing within the woman's body, it's likely that hair loss could increase. The likelihood of hair loss increasing just after pregnancy is also high, as the woman is going through more hormonal changes.

Illness

There are many illnesses that affect the amount of hair loss that occurs. Thyroid problems and iron deficiencies are examples of illnesses in which hair loss can increase.

Seasonality

Some experts feel that people have a predictable hair loss cycle, and as such people have different levels of hair throughout the year. This is similar to most animals, as many animals have a hair growth cycle where they grow a winter coat in late fall (October/November), and shed into their spring/summer coat in early spring (March/April).

If you feel that your hair loss is above normal, consult a trichologist. These hair specialists can tell if significant hair loss is occuring and recommend an action plan.

If you don't wish to see a specialist, but are concerned about your hair, remember that hair loss is only a concern if it's considerable. If you notice that your part is getting wider, or you can see your scalp through your hair, you may want to contact a specialist.