Over half of women experience thinning hair at some point in their life, particularly beginning during middle age as hormone levels such as progesterone and estrogen fluctuate and change. Because we are taught that thick, full hair is synonymous with youth and attractiveness, hair loss in women can negatively impact one’s confidence and self-esteem.
Women experiencing hair loss may believe that hair rejuvenation and replacement treatments are solely for men, but that is far from the truth. There have been incredible advances in the science of treating female hair loss and in the development of procedures to regrow or replace hair lost to the various forms of alopecia in women.
What Is the Reason for Hair Loss in Women?
There are many reasons a woman may experience excessive shedding or hair loss. Genetics, hormone imbalances, stress, health issues, medical treatments, nutritional deficiencies, and harsh styling processes all can lead to hair loss in women.
The most common cause is androgenic alopecia, also known as female pattern hair loss. This appears as overall hair thinning and a widening part, and is caused by the interaction of genetics, hormones, and aging. Hormonal hair loss may also happen during and after pregnancy and menopause, usually as a result of fluctuations in progesterone levels.
Thyroid disorders are another leading cause of hair loss in women. Both high and low levels of thyroid hormone in the body can cause hair loss. Low levels often cause hair to become coarse and brittle with breakage of the hair, while high thyroid levels can cause hair to become more fine with a generalized pattern of loss from the root.
Stress-related hair loss, referred to as telogen effluvium, occurs when emotional or physical stress disrupts the hair’s growth cycle. This results in excess shedding and delayed regrowth throughout the scalp, which can be attributed to a rise in cortisol levels in the body due to the stressor.
Health issues are another common reason for hair loss. Autoimmune diseases are also possible culprits in excess shedding, patchy hair loss, and poor hair growth. Medications and other medical treatments may also contribute to hair loss in women. Chemotherapy and radiation for cancer may be the most well-known of these, but treatments for depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, weight loss, and other conditions may also result in hair loss.
Personal choices about diet and styling play a role in hair loss as well. A poor diet can lack key nutrients that hair follicles need to produce strong, viable hair strands. The way one styles one’s hair can cause hair loss. Harsh brushing and tightly pulled hairstyles weaken the hair’s follicle and shaft, leading to breakage and shedding known as Traction Alopecia. Continued pulling can even cause permanent bald spots.
Can Women Have Hair Transplants?
Yes, women can and do undergo surgical hair restoration quite frequently. Hair transplants for women account for approximately 10-15 percent of the procedures performed, but that number ticks up every year as more women learn about the benefits of transplantation. They are also choosing non-surgical hair loss treatment in rapidly growing numbers, estimated to be somewhere between 35-40 percent of the non-surgical market.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Female Hair Transplantation?
Surgical hair restoration for women works best for those who have a stable pattern of hair loss, a healthy scalp, and an adequate amount of healthy donor hair at the rear and sides of the head. It is also important for a candidate to be in good enough health to undergo such a procedure.
Those for whom the procedure may not be suitable or successful are women whose hair loss is rapidly progressing or widespread, those with permanently damaged hair follicles, those with inadequate donor hair, and those with health conditions (like clotting disorders or uncontrolled diabetes) that may lead to surgical complications.
