8 Causes of Hair Loss in Women & What to do if it's happening to you

Hair loss in women is a common and growing (!) issue. Whether you're dealing with menstrual issues, fertility concerns, or energy and libido struggles, chances are your hair will be affected at some point. It doesn't have to be a cause for concern, though. With the proper care and treatment of the underlying causes, you can prevent hair loss from happening and help restore any that has already been lost. Read on to find out how!As you might imagine hormones both stimulate hair growth and hair loss. Understanding the interplay between your hormonal balance and your diet can help prevent the most distressing aspects of hair loss. Female hair loss is caused by the combination of the presence of an abundance of the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and having hair follicles that have more androgen receptors for DHT. While there is a genetic component to this issue, you have the ability to do a lot to support your body's ability to process hormones efficiently. Hair follicles are very responsive to hormonal changes and imbalances in the body. The good news is that most hair loss is temporary and resolves itself after the body has regained its equilibrium and with the proper care.

These are the 8 most common causes of hair loss in women:

1. Hormonal Birth Control - Women who have hair loss issues, especially if there is a genetic predisposition to them, can have hair loss occur at a much younger age by taking birth control pills. Usually this is reversible.
2. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - Women with this condition suffer from a variety of possible symptoms, one of which can be hair loss. It is best to address the complexity of this hormone imbalance through holistic means.
3. Pregnancy/Childbirth - Already mentioned, some women experience major shifts in their hair due to hormone fluctuations. This may mean curlier or straighter hair than normal, thicker hair, and often hair loss. Some women experience these changes during pregnancy while more women experience it after pregnancy. Either way, in most cases it usually resolves itself completely.
4. Thyroid Disease - Both an overactive thyroid and an underactive thyroid can cause hair loss. Thyroid imbalances can be diagnosed by your physician through laboratory testing. These imbalances are completely treatable through holistic means.
5. Deficient diet - With so many fad diets and extreme "detox" plans out there, it's very easy for women to inadvertently affect their hair's texture and thickness. Oftentimes an extreme shift in diet, particularly a low protein diet, extreme calorie restriction, or a predominately junk-food vegetarian diet may cause a protein deficiency that results in massive amounts of hair shedding, often two or three months after the shift in diet began. Choosing safe detox programs and restoring a proper balance to your diet can reverse the hair loss.
6. Medications - Prescription drugs that treat anxiety and depression, as well as blood pressure may cause temporary hair shedding in a small percentage of people. It's important for women to know this as so many women opt for mood-stabilizing drugs when they feel at a loss in facing major life transitions. Most of the mood stabilizer and antidepressant drugs can cause this side effect.
7. Low Serum Iron - Iron deficiency can cause hair loss. Women with heavy or too frequent menstrual periods may develop iron deficiency. Low iron can be detected by laboratory tests and can be corrected with iron supplementation.
8. Stress - Stress is an interesting factor in hair loss for some. It can result from a major stress episode, and will cause the shedding three months after the episode and hair regrowth can resume three months after that. However, so many women now deal with chronic low grade stress, and depending on their genetic predisposition, this kind of stress can trigger earlier onset of androgenic hair loss.

What can you do to prevent hair loss?

First and foremost, avoid taking birth control pills or antidepressants if you don't absolutely have to. Even if you think you do, seek another opinion and alternative first. If you are hormonally sensitive, and increasing numbers of women are (due to the amount of xenoestrogens in the environment and in food), then adding in synthetic hormones can further exacerbate a hormonal issue. In addition, it's very critical to maintain a healthy diet - avoid fad diets, extreme detox programs, or experimenting with vegetarianism without guidance. Physical activity is another fantastic preventative; it serves double duty both in promoting circulation of key nutrients to hair follicles and also in mitigating the hair compromising effects of the stress hormones on your body.

What can you do if hair loss is happening to you?

If you're finding yourself with hair that's thinning, or dealing with a hormonal issue, then first and foremost schedule a call with us at FLO. On the call we'll identify which of the many causes might be the culprit in your situation. What's most important is to learn about what's causing your hormonal imbalance and then to proceed through a healing process that addresses these underlying factors - including proper nutrition, support of the organs of elimination, and stress management. You can also go to your general physician or gynecologist and ask for a full hormonal panel. This way you'll know if there's anything you can work on in the short term - like an iron or thyroid issue. If it's not thyroid-related or if it's not a protein or an iron deficiency, then it's really an indication that your elegantly complex endocrine system needs some attention. Luckily, our programs are designed to do just that!

Does it happen to EVERYONE?

In fact, it is more common than it is discussed. Although it's normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, most people experience excessive hair loss at some point in their life. The good news is that most causes are temporary while only a few are permanent. The best news is that learning about how your body works, understanding how to properly care for your hormonal system, and then making that the basis of your healthy lifestyle is the easiest thing you can do as a woman to improve your health for the long term!

FLO is committed to helping you understand the amazing natural healing options that are available to you, so that you can make knowledgeable, powerful choices about how to care for your body and your menstruation, fertility, and sexual health.