LET'S JUST GET TO IT...
It really sucks to lose your hair. And what sucks even more is not knowing the cause of your hair loss.
So this is kind of how it goes...
Your hair starts to thin or fall out. The first thing you do is make an appointment with your doctor. I mean logically one would think that a medical professional would have answers and provide solutions for your hair loss??
From there you are put through a bunch of testing and blood work only to find out that you are a healthy human being and therefore there is no medical reason for your hair loss...so you are told.
Frustrating right? OH but wait...this is only the beginning (I know debbie downer).
You spend months, years, a lifetime searching for reasons and solutions for why your hair is thinning or falling out. You try every single hair care product on the market. You see countless doctors and each one prescribes a new medicine, multiple medicines, to help with your hair loss. You are even told to endure physical pain (steroid shots in the head-sounds fun right) and yet each road leads to the same place. Back where you began. No reasons. No solutions. And because of the stress and trauma you have endured searching for answers and solutions, your hair loss worsens. UGH!!!!!
BUT! The story does not have to end here..... if you don't want it to (hint-don't let the story end here).
You decide to pick yourself up off the floor and keep going.
You start to educate yourself and conduct your own research as to why women experience hair loss.
You learn that you are not alone and that there are so many other women, beautiful women like you, who are losing their hair and for all various reasons. You decide that you are going to join the club and you become a fierce hair loss warrior that will stop at nothing to find YOUR OWN Solution. A solution that works for YOU!
And that's where I come in! The crazy wig lady that will also stop at nothing to help you find that solution that works for you!
So now that you are in the badass warrior mode don't get too ahead of yourself. Knowledge is POWER and you need to take the time to understand all of the amazing resources the alternative hair industry has for you!
This page will help get you started and I hope that you find this information useful. And then I really hope that you book a wig or hair topper consultation and come to see me (I really am a lot of fun!).
Knowledge is power
UNDERSTANDING HAIR LOSS
Hair Loss in women can be caused by a variety of issues, including:
- Female Pattern Baldness
- Alopecia (various forms) (National Alopecia Areata Foundation)
- Certain Medical Conditions
- Stress
- Diet and Nutrition
- Medications (including Chemotherapy) (American Hair Loss Association article)
- Trichotillomania (Trichotillomania Learning Center)
- Over Processed Hair
- Certain Scalp Conditions such as Telogen Effluvium
- Medical conditions thyroid, Hormone Imbalance
Myths about hairloss
MYTHS ABOUT HAIR LOSS
- Frequent shampooing contributes to hair loss.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss.
- 100 strokes of the hair brush daily will create healthier hair.
- Permanent hair loss is caused by perms, colors and other cosmetic treatments.
- Women are expected to develop significant hair loss if they are healthy.
- Shaving one’s head will cause the hair to grow back thicker.
- Standing on one’s head will cause increased circulation and thereby stimulate hair growth!
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss.
- There are cosmetic products that will cause the hair to grow thicker and faster.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss.
- Hair loss does not occur in the late teens or early twenties.
- Hair loss affects only intellectuals.
- There is a cure for Androgenetic Alopecia.
These are only a few of the common myths heard by physicians and other hair loss specialists on a daily basis. The American Hair Loss Council suggests that you first have your hair loss diagnosed by a competent dermatologist who sees hair loss patients on a regular basis. Once you know the diagnosis you will have a better understanding of exactly which treatment option may be best for you.
Types of hair loss and causes
Female Pattern Hair Loss
(Androgenetic Alopecia)
The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia or baldness. This is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top and sides of the head. It affects approximately one-third of all susceptible women, but is most commonly seen after menopause, although it may begin as early as puberty. Normal hair fall is approximately 100-125 hairs per day. Fortunately, these hairs are replaced. True hair loss occurs when lost hairs are not regrown or when the daily hair shed exceeds 125 hairs. Genetically, hair loss can come from either parents side of the family.
There are two different types of hair loss, medically known as anagen effluvium and Telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is generally due to internally administered medications, such as chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing hair follicle. Telogen effluvium, is due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the resting stage.
The most common causes of Telogen Effluvium are:
Physical stress: surgery, illness, anemia, rapid weight change.
Emotional stress: mental illness, death of a family member.
Thyroid abnormalities.
Medications: High doses of Vitamin A, Blood pressure and Gout medications.
Hormonal causes: pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause.
When the above causes of telogen effluvium are reversed or altered you should see the return of normal hair growth.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS
Hair loss may also occur due to dieting. Franchised diet programs which are designed or administered under the direction of a physician with prescribed meals, dietary supplements and vitamin ingestion have become popular. Sometimes the client is told that vitamins are a necessary part of the program to prevent hair loss associated with dieting. From a dermatologists’s standpoint, however, the vitamins cannot prevent hair loss associated with rapid, significant weight loss. Furthermore, many of these supplements are high in vitamin A which can magnify the hair loss.
PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL STRESS
Surgeries, severe illnesses and emotional stress can cause hair loss. The body simply shuts down production of hair during periods of stress since it is not necessary for survival and instead devotes its energies toward repairing vital body structures. In many cases there is a three month delay between the actual event and the onset of hair loss. Furthermore, there may be another three month delay prior to the return of noticeable hair regrowth. This then means that the total hair loss and regrowth cycle can last 6 months or possibly longer when induced by physical or emotional stress. There are some health conditions which may go undetected that can contribute to hair loss. These include anemia or low blood count and thyroid abnormalities. Both of these conditions can be detected by a simple, inexpensive blood test.
HORMONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Hormonal changes are a common cause of female hair loss. Many women do not realize that hair loss can occur after pregnancy or following discontinuation of birth control pills. It is important to remember that the hair loss may be delayed by three months following the hormonal change and another three months will be required for new growth to be fully achieved.
