Whether in occasional or chronic hair loss, the triggering factors of female hair loss are sometimes difficult to pinpoint.
What causes hair loss in women?
Whether chronic or occasional, female hair loss can cause significant psychological and emotional stress. So then what is considered hair loss, given that, according to researchers, it is normal to lose between 25 and 60 hairs per day? At what point should you be concerned and seek advice on treating this pathology?
Acute and diffuse hair loss is the most common form. It is generally characterized by an increased loss of hair in the telogen phase, three to four months after a triggering factor: stress, fatigue, lower estrogen levels following pregnancy, etc. This phenomenon is more commonly known as temporary or reactional hair loss. The condition referred to by dermatologists as “acute telogen effluvium” causes significant but totally reversible hair loss in women which lasts no more than six months.
This acute hair loss affects all the hairs but can sometimes be more localized around the temples. In comparison, male hair loss follows a more established pattern: the hair falls out from the forehead to the top of the head. This is known as alopecia in men. Its origin is mainly genetic.
What to do about hair loss in women
In the mirror, diffuse female hair loss, whether acute or chronic, gives the appearance of hair that is less dense and seemingly more transparent at the roots.
Of course, you should start by consulting a dermatologist, but you can also take simple steps to fight against this physiological condition effectively. Adapt your daily hair care routine, and treat hair using gentle solutions to avoid making it more fragile. In addition, be careful to avoid the overuse of heated devices such as straighteners, curling irons and hot brushes. It is best to eliminate these tools from your routine altogether, or at least to avoid using them as much as possible. It is important to note that vitamins and minerals also play a fundamental role in maintaining a normal hair cycle, especially with regard to renewing the hair bulb’s matrix cells. Ensure that you are getting the right amount of nutrients and vitamins (particularly vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B8 and B9) from a balanced diet or a treatment of dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are an interesting option for giving your body an added dose of vitamins, for stronger and more resilient hair.
Alopecia in black women: a common trend
According to a study published in the American monthly International Journal of Dermatology, 11% of black women are affected by hair loss, compared to 5% of Caucasian women. This extensive hair loss in black women is mechanical rather than physiological. Coily hair is often subject to braiding and extensions. This repeated pulling on the hair has a direct impact on the bulb of the hair follicle, which becomes damaged and ultimately falls out. Chemical products used in relaxers also cause afro-textured hair to become fragile, sometimes resulting in significant hair loss in women.
