Thinning hair in women: Why it happens and what helps

Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem. “Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss,” says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When it’s not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help. Understanding hair loss The first step in dealing with thinning hair is determining what’s happening inside your body that is causing those extra strands to cling to your shoulders and your brush. Some hair loss is normal. Everyone loses hair as part of the hair’s natural growth cycle, which occurs in three stages: The anagen stage refers to when a hair strand is actively growing. This stage can last anywhere from two to eight years. The catagen stage is a short transition phase that lasts up to three weeks. At this point the hair has stopped growing and is preparing to shed. The telogen stage is the part of the hair cycle when the hair is expelled from the follicle (the structure that produces and holds the hair). After the hair sheds, the follicle then stays dormant...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Skin and Hair Care Women's Health Source Type: blogs