Have you been experiencing rapid hair loss? Experiencing hair loss or hair thinning in women can be very jarring. Before seeking treatment, it’s a good idea to get to the bottom of what may be causing your hair loss.(1)
Common Hair Loss Causes in Young Women
While hair loss can be unexpected in your 20s and 30s, it is not uncommon. Luckily, when hair loss does occur in young women, it is often caused by specific triggers that can be reversed. The three most common triggers that induce hair loss in young women are stress, dieting, and hormonal changes.(2)
Primary Causes of Hair Loss Among Young Women
Stress: A leading cause of hair loss and thinning in young women is stress. This is because stress causes the body to enter “survival mode,” where the body pushes hairs out of the growth phase and into the resting phase.
Dieting: Rapid weight loss from intense dieting also places a great deal of stress on the body, causing hair growth to slow down or stop. In addition, low-calorie dieting often does not provide the body with enough nutrients to support healthy hair growth.
Hormonal Changes: Hair growth in young women can also be significantly affected by hormonal changes. Some progesterone-based birth control medications can cause estrogen levels to drop and induce hair loss or thinning.(3)
Common Hair Loss Causes in Middle-Aged Women
While still unwanted, hair loss in women becomes more common during middle age. As you reach your 40s and 50s, hair loss becomes more related to genetics and menopause. In addition, years of certain hair practices carried out during your 20s and 30s can lead to hair loss during your 40s and 50s.
Primary Causes of Hair Loss Among Middle-Aged Women
Genetics: When it comes to hair loss and thinning during middle age, genetics play a significant role for both men and women. Roughly 40% of women experience notable hair loss by the age of 50.(4)
Menopause: Another common culprit of hair loss in women during middle age is menopause. With menopause comes a drastic drop in estrogen levels. This drop in estrogen causes hair to become thinner.(5)
Hair Styling Practices: Certain hair styling practices like braids, weaves, and tight ponytails can put significant pressure on hair roots.(6) If these styles are worn continually throughout a woman’s 20s and 30s, it can lead to noticeable hair loss during middle age.
Common Hair Loss Causes in Women 60+
Once you reach your 60s, hair growth and regeneration begin to slow. The natural aging process and specific health problems and medications are often the culprits of hair loss in women during their golden years.
Primary Causes of Hair Loss Among Women 60+
Natural Aging: Unfortunately, natural aging is the primary reason for women experiencing hair loss during their golden years as hair production slows down drastically.
Health Problems: Nutritional deficiencies and other health problems associated with aging can also lead to hair loss among women later in life.
Certain Medications: Hair loss in women 60+ can also be spurred on by medications like antidepressants, blood thinners, beta-blockers, and seizure medicine.(7)
Get Help with Your Hair Loss Struggles Today!
If you’re experiencing hair loss, Custom Hair can help. For a free consultation, contact us today by clicking here.
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Footnotes
1. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding
2.https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/hair-loss/most-common-causes-of-hair-loss-in-women-by-age
3. https://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/oral_contraceptives.html
4. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(15)01878-2/fulltext
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22171679/
6. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(16)01398-0/fulltext
7. https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/side-effects/is-your-medication-causing-hair-loss-these-11-drugs-are-common-culprits