Hair loss in women

Have you suddenly noticed a lot of hair in the shower or in the brush after combing?

The shock is often great. It's important to stay calm, because losing a certain amount of hair is completely normal due to the natural growth cycle.

Or have you noticed your hair thinning over a longer period of time? Here you can read about the most common causes of hair loss in women and the criteria that can be used to classify them.

Hereditary hair loss in women

In women, the progression is more moderate: the hair typically thins out around the crown. It does not usually lead to baldness, but to a clear thinning of the hair.

Rather slight hair loss, sometimes also formation of receding hairline. Research within the family to see if there have already been signs of hair loss.

In women, this is often triggered by hormonal changes. A drop in oestrogen levels, which can have various causes, can lead to hair loss if the hair follicles are genetically hypersensitive to androgens.

Diffuse hair loss in women

The hair falls out all over the head, no exact pattern can be recognized. Check whether you are taking certain medications with side effects of hair loss. Have you been under a lot of stress or perhaps on a crash diet? Have you had a feverish infection or a major operation in the last 3 months? However, all these can only be indications. If the hair loss persists for longer, a visit to the doctor would be advisable.

The most common ones are listed below:

Thyroid gland**: Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss.
Medication**: certain medications such as beta blockers, lipid-lowering drugs, anticoagulants and vitamin A supplements can trigger hair loss as a side effect.
Special mention is made here of hair loss due to cytostatic drugs. The cytostatic drugs administered during chemotherapy** lead to a (usually reversible) loss of scalp hair, depending on the active ingredients used, dosage and duration of use.
Stress & stressful situations**: Stress of various forms and causes can lead to diffuse hair loss. It describes the premature transition of the hair from the growth phase (anagen phase) to the loss phase (telogen phase). If hair loss is persistently severe, it progressively leads to thinning and thinning of the entire head of hair.
Malnutrition & extreme diets**: An unbalanced diet with a lack of iron, zinc, iodine, protein, vitamins A, B, D or H (biotin), as well as a lack of unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids can lead to hair loss.
Infections**: After acute febrile infections, such as infection with a pathogen (e.g. Covid, flu), there may be a temporary increase in hair loss.

Hair loss during the menopause

During the menopause, there is a change in a woman's hormone balance. The oestrogen level drops, the hair growth phase is shortened and hair loss can increase.

Hair loss during the menopause is also a form of diffuse hair loss.

Circular hair loss (alopecia areata) in women

The hair growth disorder manifests itself in the formation of small, bald patches that can spread over the entire head.

Other forms can lead to the loss of all body hair (alopecia totalis).

The exact causes have not been conclusively clarified. However, it is generally assumed that the immune system reacts to its own hair roots.

Mechanical hair loss

If there is too much tension on the hair, this can lead to hair loss in women. This is usually caused by tight braids or excessive brushing. The use of hair elastics, curlers and similar tools can also put too much tension on the hair.

Scarring hair loss

Here you will notice a clear receding of the hairline, in some cases also in the ear-neck area. As soon as you notice anything here, you should consult a dermatologist. If detected early, the chances of treatment are highest. The hair roots of the affected areas are usually so permanently damaged that they can no longer be reactivated.

Why the search for the cause is often difficult

It is often not possible to determine the exact cause of hair loss. We have been advising those affected for more than 40 years. In most cases, it can be assumed that there is a congenital hypersensitivity of the hair follicles (colloquially known as hair roots) to certain triggers.

These triggers can have different origins and causes. In most cases, however, they are hormonal fluctuations, stress and other physical stress situations. This can then have an effect on hair roots and the hair cycle. Mixed forms are becoming increasingly common.

The information on this page does not constitute medical advice and should not be construed as such. Consult your doctor before changing any regular, medically prescribed treatment procedure.