Hair loss affects both men and women.  While genetics plays a role, there are other factors, including:  hormonal imbalances, an underactive thyroid gland, nutrient deficiencies and insufficient scalp circulation.

A woman’s hair is part of her style and a distinct part of her appearance. When a woman goes through a period of hair loss or thinning, she can feel insecure about how she is seen in the world.  Often this is caused by thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, anemia, periods of high stress or insufficient nutrient absorption.

Though the same conditions are still responsible for many women’s hair loss,have more challenges when it comes to maintaining a full head of hair.

Causes of Hair Loss:

These are some of the many reasons why women may lose hair:
Iron deficiencyØ
Low thyroid functionØ
High androgen levelsØ
High stress levelsØ
Autoimmune disorders – lupus, Hashimoto’s, etcØ
Post-partum hair loss

During the growth stage, hairs grow for a period of 2-6 years before being shed for a period of 3-6 months. On average, hair grows at a rate of 0.35 mm per day and when in a shedding phase, 100 hairs can be lost in a day. Due to the inequities of these cycles, it may look like you are losing great volumes of hair during a loss phase and then with the slow hair regrowth. You may not be able to see new hairs until a substantial amount of time has passed.

The hair is more a reflection of your health history over the last 6-18 months than your current health status. With causes of hair loss ranging from systemic disease and autoimmune conditions to drug use, chemical exposure, chemotherapy, iron deficiency, fever, weight loss and severe emotional or physical stress, we need to consider the health history when diagnosing the cause of hair loss. Current hair loss may be a result of a health issue that has since resolved but you are just seeing the impact now.