Social Stigma of Hair Loss in Women

in hair •  2 years ago 

Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You're not alone if you're experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding, or significant hair loss.

Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats, or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.

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Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.

First of all, don't panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.

Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our heads. The follicle is alive, however, the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.

For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a six-year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow, or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.

Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding, and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern, and extent of your baldness.

What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self-image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full-bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability, and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lackluster, and thinning hair with old age, sickness, and poverty.

A dramatic decrease in self-esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however, it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self-loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.

Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall personality.

A woman's hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine, and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self-image. A woman's sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establishing a place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.

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It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five, about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.

In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.

Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the psychological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.

Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits, and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self-esteem.

Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair, and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.

Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy, and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs, or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.

When To Contact A Medical Professional

Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease but is more commonly related to heredity, aging, and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture, and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance, and illness. It is wise to pay attention.

Women's hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result, you may experience significant growth of new hair.

Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide the loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.

A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration, and rest can go a long way toward preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.

Although medical research is ongoing, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.

Nutrition

Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well-being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications, and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.

Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and is necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians need to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.

The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality, and growth.

Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, and low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy, and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.

Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss

Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.

Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care

Continuously pick natural normal items to stay away from the synthetic compounds and poisons found in numerous hair care items. Brutal synthetics might take the normal oils from your hair and lead to breakage and unfortunate hair development. Color, hair fixing, and long-lasting arrangements are exceptionally horrendous to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the fragile sebum equilibrium of the scalp.

Be delicate with your hair. Permit hair to dry normally as opposed to utilizing a hair dryer. A characteristic fiber brush is useful in forestalling harm. Try not to style until totally dry. Wet hair is powerless hair so maneuver carefully. Stay away from or bring an end to any negative behavior patterns you might have that force or bend the hair. Make an effort not to continually run your fingers through your hair, pull at the hair, and stay away from pins or elastic groups that draw at and sever the hair. Limit the utilization of mousse, gels, and hair showers. These items dry and overload the hair shaft and dull the normal shine of your hair.

Stay away from salt and chlorinated water while swimming. Whenever uncovered, consistently wash the hair with cool water and a natural delicate cleanser and apply a gentle conditioner. Sun admirers ought to ensure that hair care items have sunscreen properties to shield hair from the harmful influences of UV beams. Make sure to wear a cap to forestall burn from the sun on the scalp.

Solid Lifestyle

Going bald is horrible, but our hair is just essential for what our identity is. I remind myself to keep my fixation on my balding in context and be content with the wide range of various aspects of my life that are going right and in balance. Center around the positive, eat well, rest well and find a sense of contentment with what your identity is. Keep in mind, that for some, hair comes back as bafflingly as it vanished.

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