Thinning Hair In Women -- Devastating Emotional Effects
Thinning hair in women is not a problem that many people take seriously. But the loss of her hair can be an emotionally devastating experience for any woman. And the fact that people around her don't understand how she feels only makes it worse. Why is it that people don't have much sympathy for women facing this problem?
Only Men Lose Their Hair, Right?
Wrong. It may come as a surprise, but nearly half of all hair-loss sufferers in the United States are women. They seem to be a hidden minority though, as men get most of the press about hair loss. There are many emotional issues for men who are losing their hair, but as a whole, men tend to get a lot more support from their family members, their friends, and society as a whole.
It's a different story when people think about women and hair loss.
How Do Women Lose Their Hair?
Not too many women actually develop bald spots like men do. In women, when hair regrows as part of the normal hair lifecycle, it may grow back thinner and shorter than it used to be. Hair loss in women results in thinning and sparsely growing hair. Eventually a woman's hair may look like "peach fuzz."
But because thinning hair in women is not as obvious as a bald spot, the people in a woman's life tend not to take it seriously. A woman may become very self-conscious about her appearance. She may be too embarrassed to even mention it to her doctor. And if she does, her doctor may have the attitude that since this isn't a life-threatening condition, she should just "live with it."
But when a woman's family and friends don't understand how devastating this problem is for her, her self-esteem can plummet, and it can even lead to anxiety and depression.
Is Thinning Hair Only A Problem For Older Women
Absolutely not. Many women in the late teens and early twenties start to lose their hair, too. Hair loss in women not always associated with menopause.
Hair loss can have a number of causes, including cystic ovaries, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, psychological or physical stress, and dietary deficiencies. Chemotherapy, birth control pills, beta-blockers, coumadin, anti-depressants and others can cause thinning hair in women, too. A woman with hair loss should always have a doctor's check-up to rule out any problems that may be contributing to this problem.
Thinning Hair In Women Should Be Taken Seriously
This is a very real issue for many women, and the people around her should always take it seriously. Otherwise it can lead to serious emotional and psychological problems.
