What causes severe hair loss in women?
Nov 12, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Women may experience hormonal changes during various stages such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause, which can lead to hair fragility and loss. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, in particular, have a significant impact on the hair growth cycle. Special treatment is usually not required; maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and stress reduction, is recommended.
Generally, severe hair loss in women may be caused by genetic factors, hormonal changes, iron-deficiency anemia, hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other factors. The appropriate treatment depends on the specific cause to achieve effective results. Prompt medical consultation is recommended, and treatment should follow medical advice. Detailed information is as follows:
1. Genetic factors: Genetics can contribute to hair loss in women. If there is a family history of hair loss, it may be inherited by subsequent generations of women. Hereditary hair loss is typically associated with follicular sensitivity and responsiveness to specific hormones. Medications such as minoxidil solution, finasteride tablets, and spironolactone tablets may be used under medical guidance to promote hair growth.
2. Hormonal changes: Women may experience fluctuations in hormone levels during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause, which can lead to fragile hair and hair shedding. Particularly, variations in estrogen and progesterone levels significantly affect the hair growth cycle. Usually, no specific treatment is required; maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and stress reduction, is recommended.
3. Iron-deficiency anemia: Iron is an essential element for hemoglobin synthesis, and iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which affects blood supply to hair follicles and causes hair loss, often accompanied by pallor. Iron supplements such as ferrous gluconate syrup, ferrous succinate tablets, and ferrous sulfate tablets may be used under medical supervision.
4. Hypothyroidism: Patients with hypothyroidism have insufficient thyroid hormone production, which affects scalp health and leads to hair loss, often accompanied by weight gain. Medical treatment with drugs such as methimazole tablets, propylthiouracil tablets, or carbimazole tablets may be required under medical supervision to replenish thyroid hormones.
5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): SLE is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammatory reactions in the skin, leading to hair loss. In SLE patients, the immune system attacks the body's own hair follicles, causing follicular damage and hair loss, often accompanied by facial rashes. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, azathioprine tablets, and prednisone acetate tablets may be used under medical guidance to reduce inflammation.
Maintaining good daily routines and ensuring sufficient sleep are beneficial for maintaining healthy hair.
