What Causes Sudden Hair Loss in Females?

The three most common triggers for hair loss in young women are stress, diets and hormonal changes. Less commonly, hair loss can be caused by certain autoimmune diseases. Here's more information on these four triggers for hair loss in young women. There is a wide range of conditions that can cause hair loss, and some of the most common are pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia.

Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and skin conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says. Most of the time, mild hair loss is just a sign that your body is developing new, healthy ones to replace the old one. In fact, losing up to 100 hairs a day is totally normal. If you're not sure what's normal for you, it's a good idea to simply pay attention to what you normally see on the brush or shower drain.

And if you suddenly notice a lot more, or your ponytail is thinner or you see more scalp, you may be losing more hair than you should, according to Francesca Fusco, M. D. Once estrogen levels return to normal after delivery, the hair resumes its normal growth cycles and begins to lose all that thick, luscious hair that accumulated over the past 10 months. Some women experience very mild hair loss, but others experience severe hair loss for a few months.

This type of hair loss (technically, alopecia) is called telogen effluvium and can occur months after a stressful or major life event, such as childbirth, explains Bethanee Schlosser, M. Hair loss peaks about four months after the incident that caused it, she explains. Creating and maintaining healthy hair depends on solid nutrition. In particular, iron, zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin) and protein deficiencies have been linked to several types of hair loss.

Some medications can cause chronic spread as well, according to Dr. Fusco. In particular, those used to control high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis and depression are known to cause hair loss problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Alopecia

areata is just one of many types of autoimmune diseases that can cause hair loss.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis and lupus are two examples of other autoimmune diseases that can cause hair loss, according to DermNet NZ. This type of hair loss isn't always reversible; sometimes it can be permanent. However, medications and hair restoration surgeries can help compensate for any hair loss. These types of therapies can help you to be more aware of the urge to pull your hair and instead develop other survival mechanisms.

Examples of vitamin deficiencies that can cause hair loss include a lack of protein, biotin, zinc and iron, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). An underactive thyroid (a medical condition called hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause hair loss because each condition causes a hormonal imbalance. Other reasons for hair loss include extreme stress; physical trauma such as surgery or severe illness; dramatic weight loss in a short period of time; and excessive consumption of vitamin A, Roberts says. All the things women do to manipulate their hair (dyes, chemical treatments, bad brushes, hair dryers and straighteners) can cause damage and breakage as well as contribute to further hair loss or breakage.

To prevent this from happening it's important to use a shampoo and conditioner duo that's formulated specifically for women with thinning or weak hair. If you notice that your hair is weakening and bothering you there are a few simple ways to make it look fuller while helping prevent further damage or breakage: use gentle products when styling your hair; avoid tight hairstyles such as ponytails; use wide-toothed combs instead of brushes; avoid heat styling tools; and use protective products when styling your hair with heat tools. Although there has been a relationship between menopause and hair loss Roberts says she doesn't think there's a direct correlation between the two conditions. Trichotillomania (the urge to pull out one's own hair) can also cause permanent damage if done for long enough; it can cause progressive thinning of the hairline and if done for long enough it can lead to permanent baldness in some cases.

Other hormonal imbalances can also cause temporary or permanent hair loss especially hormones that fluctuate greatly after pregnancy and childbirth. However if your hair doesn't return to its normal volume in nine months see a doctor to evaluate it and determine if anything else is going on. About 90% of the hair on the head is in the anagen or growth phase which lasts two to eight years according to Dr Fusco so if you're experiencing sudden or excessive shedding it could be due to something else such as stress physical trauma or an underlying medical condition such as anemia or thyroid disorder. Hair is also more fragile when it's wet so be sure not to treat it too harshly when washing or styling as this could lead to further breakage or even permanent damage in some cases.

In addition while Green recommends incorporating fatty fish berries green leafy vegetables and other foods that can promote healthy hair growth into your diet she also points out that even a healthy diet can have its limitations when it comes to preventing excessive shedding.