What are the Different Causes of Alopecia in Women?

Alopecia in women, which causes hair loss, may be the result of hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or genetics. Some women develop alopecia as they age. Alopecia is also occasionally the result of a sudden traumatic event in someone's life. The two different types of alopecia are alopecia areata and adrogenic alopecia. Some people with alopecia will be able to regrow their hair, while others may not. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose alopecia, and any woman experiencing unusual hair loss symptoms should consult a doctor to determine the cause.

Hormone imbalances, particularly those relating to menopause, often cause alopecia in women. Studies have shown that most women have experienced some noticeable hair loss in their lives by the time they reach menopausal age, and it may worsen after that. This may be the result of a decrease in the estrogen levels. Unlike men, women who experience hair loss tend to lose it all over their heads rather than in just a few localized spots. Alopecia in women is also common just after childbirth, but in most cases the hair will regrow once the hormones rebalance themselves.

Women of any age may experience alopecia as a result of various nutritional deficiencies. Being anemic and having low iron levels are typically the main causes of alopecia related to poor nutrition. This problem is also common in people who lose weight very quickly, which is often the case with crash dieting. The best way to remedy this type of alopecia may be with daily multi-vitamins and a more balanced diet.

Sometimes genetics causes alopecia in women. A woman who has a relative on either side of her family with a history of alopecia is considered much more likely to experience the problem herself. There is very little a person can do about genetically inherited problems, but it may be possible for a person to lessen the chances of developing alopecia by making sure she eats healthy foods as often as possible. Anything that contains lots of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid may help to reduce the likelihood of hair loss.

Alopecia areata is the type of alopecia most commonly associated with aging and traumatic life events, and it is usually temporary. Androgenetic alopecia is most often a permanent problem and is sometimes inherited or the result of diseases such as lupus. A few other things that may cause alopecia in women are PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and wearing hairstyles that put extra pressure on the scalp, such as ponytails or buns.