When we think of losing hair, our thoughts turn to men. They are the ones who have the shiny dome later in life. But what about women who are having problems in this area? More and more are suffering from hair loss.

For women, hair loss is particularly devastating. We think of our hair as our crowning glory. Without it we don’t feel beautiful anymore. It seems like vanity but to lose your hair and not have any grow back does affect your self-image.

Hair loss in women is referred to as alopecia. It is a blanket term that covers all types of hair loss. The causes are varied and can occur at different times in a woman’s life.

Why do women lose their hair? The first thing that comes to mind is menopause. When the menstruation cycle ceases, lots of changes occur in the female body. For one, hormone levels fluctuate. No longer are the ovaries producing estrogen and progesterone like they used to. This makes the level of testosterone in the female of higher concentration than the other two more dominant hormones.

This hormonal imbalance can lead to thinning hair and then hair loss. Most women lose their hair in patches that can be hard to cover up over time.

Stress can also lead to hair loss. As you know, stress can affect your body both inside and out. When we are stressed out, we don’t eat as we should. Lack of proper nutrition can result in dull looking skin, brittle nails and even more brittle hair. Hair follicles act like the rings on a tree. They are a tool for discerning what is happening in the body.

Metabolic disorders within the body can cause hair loss as well. This includes thyroid conditions, PCOS and genetics. Reactions to chemotherapy and radiation treatments can cause the hair to fall out and not grow back.

Since most hair loss occurs in the 40s and further on down the line, some doctors contribute it to aging. Even if this is so, dealing with the underlying cause, which may not necessarily be just aging, can help stop any further hair loss or reverse the damage that has already been done.

So what is the treatment? That will all depends on the type of hair loss and its severity. Rogaine is a product that most see as a cure all but its emphasis is on the hair that is left on your head and not dealing with the follicles that have stopped producing hair for one reason or another.

Some treatments deal with women’s hair loss on a hormonal level. Drugs that block testosterone are being introduced as a way to help reverse hair loss.

Hair loss in women can be devastating. If you are losing more than your normal share of hair strands each day, see your doctor for more information.