Female Hair Loss: How to Prevent and Treat It

It is not unusual to observe how at this time of year Your hair falls out more than usual. Hair appears on the pillow, in the shower… This is known as seasonal hair loss, a problem that especially affects women. For all this, we wanted to talk to an expert, Dr. Miguel Sanchez VieiraDirector of Institute of Comprehensive Dermatology (IDEI) to tell us all the details about this Hair loss in women.

Can hair be strengthened so that it does not fall out?

As the expert explained, at certain times of the year, viz autumn, Hair falls more than usual (averages between 100-150 hairs per day) and we can take measures to make the telogen phase less impactful or less permanent. Among them we find:

• Hair mesotherapy: Microinfiltration of vitamins, minerals and medicines directly into the scalp. This treatment not only strengthens hair, but also slows hair loss, giving it everything it needs to be strong and healthy.
• Use of anti-hair loss shampoos and masks: These products prolong the hair growth phase (anagen) and delay the resting and shedding phases. The result? Thicker and more resistant hair.
• Diet: What we eat directly affects our hair. A diet rich in iron, such as red meat and spinach, improves capillary oxygenation. Vitamins A and B, along with minerals like zinc (in meat and fish), strengthen hair fibers. Include fruits, green vegetables, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans in your diet for healthy and shiny hair. On the other hand, you should avoid very restrictive foods as they affect hair health. To do this, you must reduce foods rich in salt, fat and sugars (sausage, cheese and fried foods) to avoid weak and brittle hair. As we mentioned, you need to choose a varied and healthy diet that benefits both your body and your hair.
• Reduce stress: It is one of the biggest enemies of your hair. This can trigger seasonal hair loss, known as telogen defluvium. Learn to relax and seek professional help to manage it effectively if necessary.

What month or time of the year hair falls the most?

Doctors confirmed that fall is the time of year with the most hair loss, something that coincides with the natural life cycle of hair. “It is more noticeable in womenBecause they have long hair and it is visible during bathing, brushing your hair or on the pillow. Spring is another time when hair falls too, but the damage is not as great as during fall,” he elaborates.

What are the most common causes of hair loss in women?

There are moments in a woman’s life that are associated with hormonal changes that make hair fall out more easily. Among them are:

• postpartum: Hormone levels change, causing a temporary drop known as telogen effluvium.
• Menopause: During this phase of a woman’s life, estrogen (the female hormone) decreases which can weaken the hair.
• Other disorders: One of them is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can also trigger hair loss.

On the other hand, as we described earlierStress and anxiety are triggers for hair fall (This occurs in both women and men), resulting in what is called telephone effluvium (this is temporary hair loss),” he points out.

And the doctor adds it a bad dietn, as we have described, hair loss can be caused by iron deficiency anemia, as well as a deficiency of vitamins A, B, D, minerals such as zinc, as well as protein (also causing loss of hair muscles). .

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Are there diseases that can cause hair loss?

Dr. Sanchez Vieira tells us that suffering from certain pathologies can also cause hair loss. “We are talking about diseases related to the thyroid gland, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Similarly, certain medications, such as certain anticoagulants, contraceptives, antidepressants, and chemotherapy, can temporarily cause hair loss. We should also not forget diseases that directly affect the scalp, such as ringworm (an outbreak in some hair salons recently) and some types of dermatitis, such as seborrheic,” he tells us.

And of course, you need to know if they exist History of androgenetic alopecia tThis type of alopecia can also occur in women (about 30-50% of women, to varying degrees, when they reach menopause, especially).

What can be done to try to reduce hair loss in women?

Tips for trying to reduce hair loss in women and men are very similar, however, On a psychological level, alopecia affects women moreThis is the reason why suggestions for female hair loss are becoming more frequent and occur earlier.

According to doctors, some tools can be used to try to reduce female alopecia:

• Diet: Hair needs essential nutrients to grow strong. It is therefore necessary to include foods rich in iron (red meat, spinach and legumes, among others) because they allow capillary oxygenation; Zinc (fish, lean meat and nuts) for hair growth; Vitamins A, B, C, D and E which strengthen hair and stimulate hair follicles; and protein, so increasing the consumption of eggs, poultry and dairy products is very important.
• Hydration: Both in water and infusions. It oxygenates active hair follicles in a way that promotes healthy hair and less hair loss.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco: They are good for hair health as well as skin and body health in general.
• Hair Care Routine: Choose specific shampoos and products to prevent hair loss; wash your hair with hot or cold water so as not to damage the hair fibers (this also applies to the use of hair dryers and hair straighteners); Avoid very tight hairstyles to avoid traction alopecia.
• Reduces stress: As we mentioned earlier, try to reduce stress and anxiety. These are not only risk factors for hair problems such as alopecia areata (which, although it is an autoimmune disease, stress can trigger an outbreak), as well as acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and other types of non-dermatological diseases.

When should you worry about hair loss?

Experts tell us that we should always be concerned about hair loss outside of the natural (spring or autumn) period. The duration is more than 2-3 months. “Also when the loss of hair density is very pronounced and we notice that the hair that falls out is not replaced by new hair. At this point you should go to a specialist in hair dermatology (trichology) for a thorough study and find out the etiology of the hair loss,” he elaborated.