Women Who Inherit Hair Loss Still Have Hope

Hair loss is never an easy thing for anyone to accept, but it seems especially difficult for women. It seems that for many of us, our femininity is inextricably linked to our hair and how it looks, possibly why so many women have or desire longer hair. It just seems right for a woman to have long, thick, lustrous hair. When we are faced with hair loss, it takes a little piece away and robs us of our identity. We often think that men are the only ones that blame their hair loss on genetics, but heredity is the major cause of women’s hair loss as well.

Technically, genetic hair loss is called Androgenetic Alopecia and is determined by the genes passed on by our parents and grandparents.  Contrary to popular opinion, Androgenetic Alopecia can be inherited from either parent and those of certain ethnic descent such as Caucasians and Chinese are predisposed to thinning hair more than other races.

Hair loss in women is commonly experienced as a part of certain medical conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Thyroid disorders, Lupus and Cancer. These conditions, along with many others which have temporary or permanent hair loss as a symptom or result of the treatment, are typically hereditary. Examine your family history and if you find related women who have experienced, or are now suffering from, these conditions including hair loss, you may be at risk.

The root cause of genetic hair loss in women and men is the conversion of testosterone, typically a male hormone that is present in all females to some degree, to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to genetically predisposed hair follicles which results in the gradual miniaturization of the hair follicle and eventually the loss of the hair.

Luckily there are a wide variety of products on the market that target this process and that actually can make a difference. There are several mechanisms that manufacturers target to control DHT but generally women should look for products containing active ingredients such as minoxidil, azelaic acid, spironolactone, ketoconazole, aminexil and saw palmetto in shampoos and topical scalp treatments to block the effects of DHT. Avoid solutions containing anti-androgens such as finasteride and cimetidine as they are less effective on women and, in the case of finasteride, even seemingly insignificant exposure can cause birth defects. Women should also consult a medical doctor to identify and treat hormonal imbalances that they have inherited. In many cases with early treatment, the associated hair loss is controllable and may be irreversible.

If family members experience some of these problems or you see the beginnings of hair loss on your own head, see your doctor armed with this information as early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to controlling or reversing the problem.
Additionally, take action and use your knowledge of female hair loss to help prevent the trauma that this condition brings with it. Many commercial products, both over-the-counter medications and hair thickening cosmetics targeting hair loss are worth a look and represent minimal risk, so try some!

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Dale Denison
Dale Lorna Denison
P.S. For great styling tips for Women with Thinning Hair, check out my FREE Styling Guide –>

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