Hair loss in men is something that we all know about and to some extent it seems to be inevitable that the vast majority of men will lose at least some hair as they get older. However, many people are not aware that women can also suffer from a similar problem at any age.
Taking two or more aspirin per day is the cause of hair loss in some woman (and men) and cortisone creams, which cause hair growth if applied to the skin on the face for any length of time can often lead to loss of hair on the head. The birth control pill can also cause the problem in some women and if you do have a problem that way it is always a good idea to see a medical professional with a view to changing the pill that you are taking to reduce the hormones.
Anticoagulants, amphetamines (sometimes prescribed for slimming) and chemotherapy treatment can also cause different degrees of hair loss in women. Serious accidents and sever shock and long term stress also contribute to female hair loss. This is just a selection of the possible causes and only a professional will be able to determine the real cause of the problem, which could even be underlying illness, so always get it checked out to be on the safe side.
Usually, once the situation that causes the problem is sorted out, hair will grow again and for women it takes about four weeks for the hair follicles to start producing hair again.
A woman who suffers from heavy periods and starts to lose her hair should make sure that she is not deficient in iron and a blood test is the simplest way to determine if this is the case. Iron rich foods like oats, lentils, broccoli, peas, salad, poultry and watercress will certainly help here. (Many other foods contain iron too and a search of the internet will reveal lots of options.)
New mothers are usually under quite a lot of stress as they come to terms with dirty nappies, babies with wind, sleepless nights and trying get back into a routine, so it is no wonder that they often suffer from hair loss. If this happens to you, don’t worry because it is normal and as soon as your body recovers from the birth everything will get back to normal. Worrying about it only makes it worse and causes more worry, so the circle goes round and round. If you are really concerned have a chat with your doctor, or midwife to put your mind at rest.
Generally speaking hair loss in women is a temporary condition and once the situation causing the problem is rectified, your precious hair will get back to normal.
Bibliography
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/body_hairloss.shtml
http://www.hairlossexpert.co.uk/CausesHairLossWomen.html
