What causes women hair loss?

Losing hair can be particularly embarrassing for women. While this is something no woman wants to endure, it is an all too common problem. There are many causes of female hair loss. Before a woman can begin identifying solutions for attaining a full, healthy head of hair, she needs to understand the many factors that contribute to the loss of hair.

Women often experience hair loss due to variations in their hormone levels. Events such as excessive stress, pregnancy or illness trigger hormonal changes that can result in thinning or balding hair. Often, these changes are gradual, and it takes time for the symptoms of hair loss to become noticeable.

The most common cause of hair loss is the change in hormones that occur post-menopause. According to clinical studies, more than 30 percent of women experience some kind of hair loss during or after menopause when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen blocks androgen receptors, including DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, which is a form of testosterone. When estrogen decreases, the hair follicles become exposed to increased levels of DHT, resulting in a loss of hair.


Weight loss and nutritional deficiencies are also common causes of female hair loss. Like the rest of the body, healthy hair requires adequate nutrition. Undergoing a stressful situation, such as severe weight loss or illness, can put stress on the hair follicles, causing the follicles to begin shedding hair instead of continuing to grow hair.If the body’s immune system becomes weakened, this also affects the growth cycle of hair.

Traction alopecia is hair loss that comes from the constant breakage of hair. Certain types of hairstyles, such as tight braids, can damage the hair. The hair follicle can be injured to the point where hair stops growing or falls out completely. Once the hair follice recovers, hair growth can occur again.

An underactive thyroid should also be investigated as a possible culprit. Symptoms of an underperforming thyroid include dry skin, extreme sensitivity to cold, and hair loss or thinning. Proper medication can relieve the symptoms, including hair loss.

Hair loss after pregnancy is also something many women experience. As the body is adjusting to hormonal changes, the hair follicles are also affected. During these hormonal fluctuations, many women experience increased hair loss while the body is returning to its pre-pregnancy condition, which may take up to a year.

While hair loss for women is less common than it is for men, it still affects many women through a variety of life stages. Understanding the causes of female hair loss is the first step in solving the problem of thinning hair and hair loss. Suffering in silence is not the only option.

Many women look for advanced hair loss products to slow hair thinning and promote new hair growth.