• Home
• >
• Health Articles
• >
• Hair loss in females

Hair loss in females

How does your hair grow?

The hair follicle consists of a protein called keratin, which is produced by the hair follicle in the skin layer. As the hair grows, the old cell exits to the surface of the skin connected to the newly formed cell inside the follicle, where the hair growth rate is estimated at 15 cm per year. Thus, the hair outside the body is dead hair cells. The number of scalp hair cells in adults is estimated at 100,000-150,000 hairs, and humans naturally lose about 50-100 hairs per day. However, this quantity does not cause a noticeable difference in the scalp because the growing hair is sufficient to compensate for the falling hair.

Hair grows naturally on all parts of the body except for the palms and soles, considering that hair differs from one place to another; some may be very thin or invisible.

Hair growth stages

Hair goes through several growth stages affected by various internal and external factors such as age, diet, and even the person’s psychological condition. These stages can be divided as follows:

• Growth phase: This is the stage where hair grows actively, lasting from 2 to 6 years.
• Transition or resting period: This is the transitional stage of hair growth, lasting two to three weeks.
• Resting phase: The resting phase lasts for about three to four months, during which hair falls out either naturally or is pushed out by the new growing hair, thus starting a new growth cycle.

During pregnancy, hair loss decreases due to the longer growth phase and the reduced resting or falling phase in general for mothers, which gives pregnant women thick hair due to the gradual rise in estrogen hormone levels. After childbirth, estrogen hormone levels begin to decline, reducing the growth phase and increasing the falling phase of hair. Hair density returns to its pre-pregnancy state within 6 months to a year after childbirth. However, not all women notice these changes. Mothers with long hair tend to notice this change more than others.

There are several other factors that can lead to hair loss, including:

• Family history
• Hormonal changes
• Medical and health reasons
• Some types of medications

Family history:

Hair loss is associated with family history and is more noticeable in males than females. Hair loss in males can start as early as 12 years old.

Medical and hormonal causes:

Hormonal changes and imbalances can lead to temporary hair loss, including during pregnancy and childbirth, or even during menopause. Disorders of the thyroid gland also affect hair loss and changes in the absorption of some essential nutrients for hair health. In addition, inflammation of the hair follicle or the presence of certain autoimmune diseases can lead to hair loss.

Medications:

Some medications that can lead to hair loss include joint medications, antidepressants, cancer treatments, as well as medications for heart disorders, blood pressure, and birth control pills, in addition to excessive intake of vitamin A.

Other causes:

1. Exposure to radiation therapy can lead to hair loss, which is temporary and hair regrows after the end of treatment, but the hair may differ from its previous state.
2. Psychological reasons (psychological trauma)
3. Sudden weight loss or surgical procedures.
4. Excessive pulling or styling of hair.

Solution:

To address the problem of hair loss, it is necessary to search for the causes of the loss by conducting medical tests to monitor the most important elements that affect hair loss, such as zinc and iron deficiencies, anemia, and thyroid gland disorders, as well as the impact of low levels of magnesium and vitamin B12 on hair health. In case of any deficiency in vitamin levels or other results, it is essential to consult a doctor for prescription, as there are several dietary supplements and medications available at pharmacies for hair health.