Female Hormonal Hair Loss
Ever wonder if females can lose their hair? You bet they can, from many different things. We all know that men suffer visibly from what is known as male pattern baldness. This is caused by the male hormone testosterone, combining with the 5 alpha reductase, to form the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone). The DHT hormone attaches itself to a hair follicle, blocking the nutrients needed for the hair strand and the hair follicle. This will eventually cause the hair strand to fall out and the follicle to shrivel and die. Resulting in no more hair being able to grow.
The major cause of hair loss in females, is female hormonal hair loss. This causes their own version of male pattern baldness, called female pattern baldness.
The primary hormone in woman is estrogen. When a woman gets an estrogen hormonal imbalance, the hair follicles will stop functioning, leading to a loss of hair.
What are estrogens? Estrogens are the females equivalent to the male testosterone. Men do have a small amount of estrogen, but they are mainly dominated by testosterone. Estrogen in women is responsible for smaller muscle mass, less body hair, and promotes enlarged breasts. It mainly gives the female her feminine features.
In most women, before menopause, estrogen levels are primarily normal. While at this level they will block any testosterone hormone from developing DHT. After menopause, estrogen levels tend to decrease. This will allow the females testosterone hormone to create DHT. When this happens, the DHT will attach itself to the females hair follicle, just like in her male counter part. This will then result in the woman developing female pattern baldness.
What is the difference between male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness? They are caused by the same hormone, DHT, but they are each very unique.
Male Pattern Baldness – When this condition starts, it usually starts at the crown and the temples. Both locations thin toward each other till they join together giving the traditional bald condition on the male’s head.
Female Pattern Baldness – When this happens, the female hair will fall out, not like the male, but uniformly all across the scalp. But no pattern is formed.
Other conditions can cause hormone imbalance leading to hair loss. Such conditions as pregnancy, unusual stress, chemotherapy, and thyroid disorders.
If you are experiencing hair loss, you should consult doctor to determine the cause. Once you have corrected the condition causing the hair loss, then you can focus on re-growing your lost hair.