Thinning Hair in Women |Causes and Treatment

On average we each lose about 100 hairs every day. This is not a significant number from the 100,000 hair follicles in the typical scalp. A single hair will live about 4 years before it falls out and the body replaces it with another. Problems occur when the loss exceeds the typical number (resulting in hair thinning) or when the body fails to replace the hair loss (resulting in balding).

What is the best treatment?

You can experience thinning hair for many different reasons. The best treatment for your thinning hair depends on the cause.

Hormone changes

Many women experience thinning hair, often after menopause. As a woman’s hormones change, her body can trigger a condition called female pattern baldness, where a woman losses hair from all parts of her head.

Physical and Emotional Stress

If you are physically or emotionally stressed, your body can produce extra adrenaline, part of our fight or flight response. Since the body considers hair growth as a non-essential body function, the adrenaline signals the hair follicles to move into a resting phase for as long as a few months.

Poor Diet or Nutrition

If your body lacks the proper nutrients to keep healthy hair follicles replacing lost hair, you can experience hair thinning. If you do not consume the proper amount of iron or protein and are poorly nourished, you can experience temporary hair loss as a direct result of your diet.

Excessive Styling

If you over process your hair (especially with perms or bleach) or twist your hair into a tight pony tail, you can lose more hair than normal. Even a poor hair brush with nobs that pull out extra hair can be a problem.

Allergies, Injuries, Diseases or Illness (including diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease or immune system malfunction)

If you experience an injury or illness, your hair can stop growing. This means that lost hairs are not replaced. After you recover from the illness the follicles can regain their health and produce hair in about 6 months.

Inflamed Follicles

If your hair follicles are infected, the condition is called folliculitis. This can be the result of a bacteria or fungal infection. When the follicles are infected, they will not adequately produce hair.

Drug or Medical Treatment Reaction (chemotherapy for example)

Some drugs used to treat illness such as heart problems, high blood pressure and arthritis can cause hair loss. Even birth control pills cause some women to lose their hair.

Family Genes

Genetic factors related to hair are more often associated with the problem of balding, rather than hair loss. Men are much more likely than women to display “pattern” baldness, which is associated with testosterone.

For Stress-induced Hair Loss

The best way to treat stress-induced hair loss is to deal with the underlying issue, the stress. Some of the best ways to deal with stress include exercise and meditation. If you are facing a severe life event, which is causing the stress (such as death of a loved one), consider seeking professional help from a counselor or a therapist.

Once you work on the underlying cause of your stress, you can use the natural tips below to encourage your follicles to restore regular hair growth.

For Allergies-Disease-Drug Related Hair Thinning

If you know or suspect your hair thinning is related to allergies, disease, or illness, you should consult your physician and get recommendations on the best treatments for your hair thinning. If you are taking drugs, be sure to talk to your doctor prior to using any supplements or over-the-counter remedies for your hair loss problem.

Some people recommend taking iron to combat thinning hair. Be cautious. Make sure you have an iron deficiency before supplement your diet with extra iron. Consuming too much iron can be harmful.

For Folliculitis

You can treat a mild case of follicle infection with over-the-counter therapies. If your infection is severe, consult your primary care physician to get an oral antibiotic. You should also shampoo frequently with a antibacterial shampoo.

Natural ways to treat thinning hair

One of the best natural ways to combat thinning hair is to consume omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel. You should strive for one serving of an omega-3 rich food at least 3 times per week. Excellent non-fish sources of omega-3 include flax seeds and walnuts.

In addition to the omega-3, add gamma-linolenic-acid (GLA) to your diet.Take 500 mg of GLA You can find GLA in a health food store or a vitamin center. You can see a reduction in hair loss from omega-3 and GLA supplementation within about 8 weeks.

When Should You Consult Your Doctor?

Talk to your doctor about your thinning hair, when:

1. Your hair loss is sudden and not caused by an issue you can easily identify.
2. You are losing your hair in an abnormal pattern.
3. Your experience scalp-redness or severe itching along with the hair loss, which can indicate a primary infection.

1. Eat a balanced diet that includes the recommended doses of iron and at least 3 servings of omega-3-rich food at least 3 times a week. Also eat enough protein and vitamin B5.
2. Avoid stressing your hair by pulling it into very tight ponytails.
3. Use a natural bristle hair brush, which can reduce hair follicle breakage.
4. Use volumizing shampoos, conditioners and gels to promote hair thickening.
5. If hair loss runs in your family, check with your doctor as soon as you notice excessive hair loss. Many treatments can slow hair loss; but, few can make hair grow back if the underlying cause is gentic.

Web MD offers Tips to care for thinning hair

The Mayo Clinic provides information on drugs for hair loss.

The Cleveland Clinic provides helpful information on hair loss due to chemotherapy

As we age, our hair follicles thin. Even when you have less hair, your body will replace the hair you lose with thinner strands. While no topical product will solve thinning hair, some products can help boost the thickness of the remaining hair.

Here are a few products recommended by the experts and a few home remedies:

Use a good volumizing shampoos such as Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo (list price about $26), Sally Hershberger Supreme Shampoo for Thin Hair (for $9.50), or Nu Hair Extra-Strength Thinning Hair Serum for Men & Women ($28 at Walgrens).

Some people report that Pantene - Full & Thick is too harsh and can make the hair brittle and more prone to breakage. Others report good luck with Paul Mitchell thickening shampoo.

People also reported good results by applying a small amount of olive oil. One home remedy is to apply a paste of hot olive oil and honey, and keep it on the scalp for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, rinse out the olive oil and honey with apple cider vinegar, massage the scalp for 15 minutes and shampoo.

Use a soft-hold hair spray (or non at all). Soft-hold versions include Jonathan Finish Control (for about $30)

Try a concealing product to mask extremely thin parts of your scalp such as DermMatch - Instant Concealer Thin Hair (Walmart $9.50)