COMMON CAUSES OF HAIR
LOSS IN WOMEN
by Tony Pearce RN.
Specialist Trichologist, National Trichology
Services
Hair loss from some form of
hormonal disturbance has arguably become one of the
most frequently seen complaints in pre and
postmenopausal women. Diffuse (“all over”) hair fall
anecdotally seems equally as common, with this
category subdivided as ‘temporary,
self-correcting’ and ‘continuing until
corrected’.
For the reader specifically
seeking information on the subject, androgenetic
alopecia from hormonal origin has been detailed
within other articles at this website. This item
will instead concentrate on the causes and treatment
of diffuse hair loss.
Diffuse hair loss is excessive hair loss from all
over the entire scalp. Because the growing hair
is very sensitive to nutritional, metabolic or
environmental disturbances, hair is often one of the
first areas of the body to reflect disturbances in
physiological functioning. The continuously dividing
cells of the hair follicle are one of the most
metabolically active in the body, and often express
changes by alterations in phases of the hair cycle,
leading to decreased hair growth, excessive hair
fall, or a diminishing of hair shaft integrity.
High fevers, food poisoning, surgical/dental
procedures, sudden weight loss/dietary changes,
commencing/ceasing certain medication, acute
psychological shock, or following childbirth are
some of the events that may cause a percentage of
hair in the growing (anagen) phase to prematurely
pass into the falling (telogen) phase. Two–three
months after any of these experiences, the
hair will begin to shed abruptly and be lost in
excessive amounts for about 2-3 months before
settling. This type of diffuse hair loss is termed
“temporary, self-correcting”.
Although the above initiators are essentially
self-correcting forms of undue hair shedding, a
woman’s iron and nutritional status should always be
reviewed to limit the problem’s continuance.
When hair loss is subtle, slowly thinning out over
many months or even years, the underlying cause is
apt to be a nutritional or metabolic disturbance. It
is important to remember here that your hair is
essentially a reflection of what’s happening
within your body.
A nutritional disorder may occur from many causes
such as vitamin, mineral, or amino acid deficiency
or excess. A nutritional deficiency causing
excessive hair fall is usually the result of poor
dietary habits over a prolonged period. Iron
deficiency in females is commonly caused from blood
loss during menstruation and insufficient
consumption of iron-rich foods.
Besides iron, other frequently seen mineral
disturbances are zinc, chromium, and copper (in
excess). Vitamin D (calcitriol) deficiency has been
increasingly reported among the elderly population –
particularly those confined to nursing homes/hostels
etc. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption and
utilisation of calcium and phosphorus from the gut.
Loss of muscle tone and softening of the skeletal
bones (osteomalacia) will eventually result from
defective calcium utilisation.
Glands, Hormones & Hair Loss:
Endocrine glands secrete hormones into our body’s
bloodstream, where, through complex negative
feedback systems, they regulate body metabolism, the
internal environment, and energy balance. The
endocrine system consists of endocrine glands
and several organs that contain endocrine tissue.
A metabolic disturbance might equally be defined as
hormonal, for an under or overproduction of
tropins (hormones that influence other endocrine
glands) - or the hormones secreted by the glands
themselves, is the primary cause of
disruption to hair cycle phasing – resulting in a
‘continuing until corrected’ form of hair loss.
It is beyond the scope or intention of this article
to detail all the conditions associated with
endocrine dysfunction. Suffice to say that diffuse
hair loss is a common sign, whilst good
history-taking and medical referral for specific
blood testing/management should confirm the
diagnosis.
An astute trichology practitioner can assist by
holistically reviewing the patient’s diet,
lifestyle, and stress levels to determine whether or
not these issues are impacting on their hair.
There are many different reasons why an individual
may experience severe or prolonged physiological or
emotional stress. It may be the illness/death of a
loved one, an abusive relationship or relationship
failure, impending/threatened financial penury,
chronic pain conditions, addictions etc. These types
of severe stressors may activate a diffuse,
androgenetic, or autoimmune hair loss situation in a
pre-disposed person.
Whilst our body’s ‘normal’ stress response is a
protective adaptation against harmful situations;
the well-coined ‘fight or flight’ syndrome -
excessive or protracted stress can pathologically
influence our physiology to advance acute or chronic
illness.
Reaction to stress is a complex cascade of hormones
from one endocrine gland to another, with equally
complex negative feedback mechanisms. This endocrine
response occurs in conjunction with direct neural
stimulation from the sympathetic nervous system.
Many important hormones are influenced by our
response to stress including growth hormone (somatotropin),
thyroxine, adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal
glands, and glucagon from the pancreas. All
of these hormones have the capacity to raise blood
sugar levels, whilst elevated blood cortisol can
deplete a number of important steroid hormones.
Finally, it’s well documented that stress directly
influences many illnesses including ulcerative
colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, migraine
headaches, and depression. However stress as a cause
for hair loss is often prematurely diagnosed by some
practitioners, who are either unsure of what to look
for or what to ask. The person experiencing the
problem should be the best judge of whether or not
they are or have been under sufficient stress to
initiate their presenting complaint. It reflects
poorly on a practitioner who, without proper
investigation, dismisses their patient as
“stressed”, vain, or neurotic. Remember: “if it’s
a problem to the person it’s happening to … then
it’s a problem.”
About the Author: Tony Pearce is a Specialist
Trichologist & Registered Nurse. He is a founding
member of the Society for Progressive Trichology &
the official lecturer for Analytical Reference
Laboratory (ARL) for hair loss & hormone imbalance.
In Australia he can be contacted on +61 2 9542 2700,
or through his website at
www.hairlossclinic.com.au.
Copyright Anthony Pearce
Copyright
Anthony Pearce 2005. *References for this article
available on request
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