Changes to levels of hormones can affect hair production and is a one of the most prevalent causes of hair loss. For example, after the hormonal shifts of menopause, many women find that their hair is thinner. Glimmer of hope? Even though new hair may not be produced, follicles remain alive, which leaves the door open for new hair growth.
In addition, the most common form of hair loss connected to pregnancy occurs about three months after delivery. Why, you ask? During pregnancy, an increased number of hairs go into their resting phase, which is part of the normal hair loss cycle. The increase in hormones during pregnancy prevents hair loss, but when hormones go back to normal levels after delivery, your hair may fall out in order to return to its regular cycle. Make sense? So some women may have a bunch of their hair fall out all at once, but it is not serious enough to cause permanent hair loss or bald spots. However, if you experience unusual hair loss while you are pregnant, this may be due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
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Stress and thinning hair
Among the laundry list of reasons for hair loss is � stress. "Stress can lead to extra hair fall," says Kingsley. It does not weaken the hair per se, it just causes the hair follicles to release the hairs prematurely. If we just relax then we'll keep our hair in tact, right? Well, "it is easy to say 'stop being stressed', but this is much more difficult than it sounds, and the more you worry about it, the worse it is likely to become," he adds. So how can we counteract this? Kingsley suggests getting more sleep, taking vitamin B supplements and using an intensive scalp treatment. Maintaining a healthy scalp will always improve the quality of your hair -- look for one that is stimulating to improve hair growth, texture and behavior. Try Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask, $6.25 into the scalp every two to three days before shampooing.
Next: See other products that help thinning hair.
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Minoxidil
Minoxidil is the only ingredient approved by the FDA to treat female pattern baldness -- it is found in Rogaine for Women, $21.99 and other comparable brands. It's best for women who are just starting to lose hair -- ones with small areas of loss. You can apply it right on the scalp wherever you are losing hair. For the majority of women, it may slow or stop hair loss altogether and it can even help foster hair growth in 20 to 25 percent of women. However, hair loss will resume whenever you stop using Minoxidil. A downer, we know.
Nizoral is packaged as an anti-dandruff shampoo, yet its active ingredient is ketoconazole, which fights off DHT (aka the enemy) and minimizes inflammation of the scalp, which can increase hair growth. For best results, use it four times a week, giving it a thorough lather. Using Nizorial in tandem with Minoxidil may be even more effective.
This spray is a more natural alternative to Rogaine, but can also be used along with it. You can spray it on your hair after shampooing and its copper peptide technology is suppose to help stimulate hair growth to make hair thicker.
Although balding is more of an overtly male disease, according to the American Hair Loss Association, women actually make up 40 percent of hair loss sufferers. And just so you know, a hair grows about a half-inch per month from its follicle. Each individual hair grows for two to six years, rests, falls out, then new hair grows in its place. Unfortunately, sometimes, when a hair falls out, a new hair does not grow.
In what is called female pattern baldness, the cause of this inability to grow new hair is not well understood, but likely has to do with genes, aging and levels of endocrine hormones. The hormonal process of testosterone converting to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) -- which occurs in men and women -- damages the hair follicles. Note: All you need to remember as you're reading this is that DHT is not your friend because it triggers hair loss and inhibits hair growth.
Other than female pattern baldness, thinning hair happens in women for myriad reasons:
� Underactive thyroid
� Telogen effluvium (temporary hair shedding)
� Alopecia areata (an immune disorder causing temporary hair loss)
� Breaking of hair due to styling treatments and pulling of hair
� Iron deficiency
� Vitamin deficiency
� Certain medications
� Particular skin diseases
� Hormonal abnormalities
� Stress
Dr. Philip Kingsley, unmatched expert on hair health, explains stress and thinning hair further. Plus, we highlight some hair care products to help stop hair loss and increase hair growth.
