Hair Loss: Types

Below are some of the most common types of hair loss in women.

Situational shedding

Telogen Effluvium

one of the most common forms of hair loss. This occurs when there is a disruption in the growing phase. Some type of emotional or physical stress can cause hair that was in the Anagen phase to be shocked and pushed into the resting phase before its time. This condition can be caused from high levels of stress, such as death of a family member, change in medications, anesthesia or just a total lack of care nutrition on the body. This condition is usually temporary and the hair will start to grow back as soon as the stress that caused the initial problem is over.

Chronic Telogen Effluvium

is when a person is under constant high levels of stress or the body is unhealthy in some way. This type of situational shedding is usually short-lived, although it takes approximately 45 to 60 days to see the results from the initial shock. Its results are usually short term. Chronic TE can cause severe hair loss over time.

Some medications can interfere with the hair growth cycle. The most common interruption can cause a disruption in the hair cycle and cause TE. This causes the hair to fall out because the medication causes it to enter into the resting phase earlier than it should. This type of hair loss doesn’t take place immediately after taking the drug. The hair loss will occur 45 to 90 days after taking the medication.

Anagen Effluvium

This type of hair loss is when the release of the natural hair is still in the growing phase. This condition is caused mainly by medications as in Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy. It is caused when the medication acting upon the matrix cells prevents them from dividing normally and producing new hairs.

Chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill cancer cells, but also poisons the hair follicles and often result in total hair loss. Hair on the head is most commonly affected. The scalp may become tender and hair that is still growing may become dry and brittle. Usually hair loss starts approximately 12 to 17 days after the first dose of chemotherapy drugs that cause hair loss. Not all chemotherapy drugs cause total hair loss. Hair often grows back 3 to 4 months after the last chemotherapy treatment.

Hair may grow back, it may be thinner and a different color . A common occurrence is white or gray hair due to the absence or alteration of the pigment. In most cases hair eventually returns to its original texture and color. Radiation therapy destroys the ability of the cells within its reach to grow and reproduce if radiation is applied around the head or neck. Hair loss will occur and the hair in the affected area may or may not grow back.

Genetic hair loss

Androgenic Alopecia

also affects the age in which you begin to lose the hair, the rate of hair loss and the extent of the hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia in women is more likely to start after childbirth or during pre menopause. However, these are simply the average, not the rule. Studies have shown that 15-20 percent of women that show signs of Androgenetic hair loss have no known family members with the condition.

Female pattern hair loss or Androgenic Alopecia is a genetic condition that occurs in one out of every five women. Hair loss can come from various causes, such as: genetics, puberty and post menopause. These all can be affected by Androgenetic alopecia.

Facts About Women’s Genetic Hair Loss:

-40% of hair loss sufferers are women

-90% of hair loss in women is genetic

-40% of women have some hair loss by the time they are in their 40’s

-40% of women experience hair loss after menopause

-After age 50 many women develop Senescent Alopecia. The type of hair loss that occurs naturally with age.

-Androgenic Hair loss develops when the hair follicle experiences a reduction in size, as well as the time reduction in the active hair growth phase. More and more of the hair follicles will spend time in the resting phase and less time growing. this causes a slow reduction in density and length. Not all follicles are effected by androgenic alopecia.

-A lot of women feel like their hair loss started after childbirth.

-Most women start to lose their hair in their 20″s and 30″s but don’t notice the loss until they have loss a significant amount of hair

-Female pattern hair loss is one of the best kept secrets. Women are more likely to look for a solution, or to cover and or hide their hair loss than men

-Female pattern hair loss is primarily over the top and sides of the head. Androgenic hair loss is usually diffused and few women will lose all the hair as is typical in men.

-Most women are very attached to every strand of hair they have, even when hair loss is severe and prefer to keep it rather than to shave it off or to cut it down.

-Hair loss is transferred genetically equally from both parents.

Experiencing Hair Loss?

Sit down with our Master Hair Replacement Specialist and Certified Clinical Trichologist Bobbi Russell. We provide fee consultations is the CEO and founder of Hair Therapy for Women

Specialized in helping women with hair loss issues.