Causes of hair loss in women after 40

After 40, women increasingly find more hair on their comb. Over the years, the problem of split ends, thinning at the base of the strands, becomes more and more urgent. Lost curls cause fear of baldness and a willingness to resort to various folk and cosmetic products. But first, you need to understand the possible causes of hair loss.

There are a lot of them, but let's highlight the main ones:

1. with age, immunity weakens, which is the reason for the appearance of various viral diseases;
2. after 40 years, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium are less absorbed by the woman's body and their lack can lead to hair loss;
3. prolonged or severe stress;
4. polycystic ovary disease. This disease is quite common with age in women. It manifests itself in an excess of male hormones, which also provokes baldness;
5. the use of various medications;
6. diseases of the cardiovascular system, which lead to impaired blood circulation and its flow to the head area, which causes a nutritional deficiency in the hair;
7. age-related diseases characteristic of 40. Particular attention should be paid to the endocrine system.

After forty years, irreversible changes occur in the female body: muscle tissue is depleted, bone tissue weakens, lung volumes decrease, organs do not work at full capacity, and vitamins and minerals are poorly absorbed by the body.

However, it is worth understanding that one woman will suffer from changes and become like an old woman, while the other, on the contrary, will feel the strength that will make her become even more beautiful and attractive.

If yeast or fungi grow in the patient's weakened body, this can cause illness.

It also appears with a hereditary predisposition. With prolonged use of antibacterial drugs, women notice an increase in the number of lost hairs.

The use of modern hair stylers leads to excessive shedding. With hypothermia of hair in winter, a pathological process arises. In the summer, it occurs under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. If a woman's body receives insufficient vitamins, then the woman's physical health and appearance deteriorate significantly.

That is why patients are advised to periodically take multivitamin complexes, which include vitamins and minerals.

Difficulties of the post-balzac age

It should be noted right away that, having crossed the 40-year mark, women increasingly feel that the years are taking their toll. The restructuring of the hormonal background affects, which negatively affects not only the hair, but also the nails, skin, figure. The production of the so-called "beauty hormones" is reduced: estrogen and progesterone. It is they who are responsible for the elasticity of the skin, the strength of the bones, and the maintenance of reproductive function.

The processes of assimilation of minerals and vitamins deteriorate. The body is gradually preparing for menopause.

The main causes of hair loss in women in their 40s

As mentioned earlier, the condition of the hair largely depends on the hormonal background. Statistics say that the problem of hair loss in women after 40 years is closely related to the production of hormones androgens. An excess of androgens leads to gradual male pattern baldness. In the literature, this phenomenon is called "androgenetic alopecia".

Baldness begins on the frontal and parietal part of the head, on both sides of the parting. Hair becomes thin, gradually falls out or breaks off. Ladies who are faced with this problem notice that the curls become dirty faster, and the scalp becomes covered with dandruff.

• Over time, the affected areas grow, but the alopecia does not reach the back of the head. By the way, hair loss caused by excess androgens also occurs in women under 40. The risk group is headed by girls with polycystic ovary disease.
• Also, disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland can affect the condition of the hair, which, in turn, provokes atrophy of the hair follicles and increased loss of curls.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system, osteochondrosis, atherosclerosis, and vegetative-vascular dystonia also contribute to the development of alopecia. All of them impair the blood supply, which affects the normal functioning and nutrition of the hair follicles.
• Alopecia is often found in patients with anemia. This is explained by the fact that with this disease, the body poorly absorbs iron from incoming food. Iron is essential for saturating the hair roots with nutrients and oxygen. Also, this trace element activates cell division.
• The topic of a correct, balanced diet deserves special attention. Do you want to preserve the beauty and health of your hair? Then try to diversify your menu with fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs. Dishes of fish, lean meat, chicken eggs should regularly appear on your table. Your main goal is to prevent the risk of vitamin and essential micronutrient deficiencies.
• Another common cause of hair loss in women in their 40s is nervous strain. It may seem surprising to some, but regular stress, overwork, emotional crises are a direct path to baldness. Disturbances in the normal functioning of the nervous system affect the condition of the hair follicles, which, due to vasoconstriction, go into the sleep phase and literally stop working.
• Alas, by the age of 40, many ladies cannot boast of strong immunity. Hence - various viral diseases, which also increase the risk of developing alopecia.
• In addition, at this age, almost every lady is forced to paint over the gray hair that breaks through with the help of special means. However, even today, in the age of active development of the beauty industry, not all products have safe, gentle formulations. The same can be said for styling cosmetics. Poor-quality styling products can cause significant damage to the condition of even the healthiest and strongest curls. The situation is aggravated by the use of hair dryers, straightening irons, and curling irons.

How common is hair loss in women?

Signs of hair loss

1. more than 15 hairs fall out after shampooing;
2. a large amount of hair remains on the comb;
3. separate “islands” without hair appear on the head;
4. there may be partial loss of eyelashes and eyebrows;
5. itching and peeling of the scalp.

Hair loss often indicates the presence of certain disorders or diseases in the body. To properly deal with the problem of alopecia (baldness), you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence.

What is hair loss?

1. Focal or nest - separate "nests" appear on the head, on which hair thinns at first, and then completely falls out. The foci of prolapse have clear contours.This type of alopecia can often be observed in men. In women, it is accompanied by loss of eyelashes and eyebrows.
2. Symptomatic or diffuse - Hair falls out evenly over the entire head, and the remaining hairs become thinner and thinner. Baldness in this case is the result of a serious chronic illness. The prolapse disappears after the course of treatment for the underlying disease.
3. Androgenic Is a common type of hair loss in men. An irreversible process that leads to the complete loss of scalp hair. Baldness begins unexpectedly in the frontal area - in men and in the parting area - in women. The first signs of androgenic hair loss are severe hair thinning and hair loss. If you notice the problem in time and consult a specialist, you can completely stop the process of alopecia, but the lost hair cannot be returned.
4. Seborrheic - often occurs in women. Seborrhea is a scalp condition in which there is abundant secretion of sebum. As a result, a stratum corneum forms on the scalp, which is accompanied by itchy scalp, flaking and hair loss. The process of loss in this case is reversible, you just need to cure the cause.
5. Hereditary - often loss due to a genetic predisposition is accompanied by brittle nails and tooth dystrophy. This is a common cause of male pattern baldness, but it is extremely rare in women.
6. Cicatricial - at the site of severe injury, scars and scars are formed. At this point, hair follicles stop growing for life. Cicatricial baldness can be provoked by previous infectious diseases, burns or injuries.

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Hair Loss Tests

If you have the first signs of hair loss, start with a consultation with a trichologist. With the help of computer diagnostics (trichogramma), the specialist will determine the number and diameter of hair, the condition of the skin and sebaceous glands. To determine the cause of alopecia, you may be offered to undergo an examination by other narrow specialists: a gynecologist, endocrinologist, neurologist, therapist.

The gynecologist will help the woman correct hormonal imbalances. If the cause of hair loss lies in the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should seek the advice of a gastroenterologist.

You will be asked to pass

1. detailed blood test,
2. blood for biochemistry,
3. detailed urine analysis,
4. tests for parasites,
5. tests for female sex hormones,
6. detailed analysis of hair for the presence of toxins,
7. hair testing to assess mineral status.

As a result, the doctor will be able to determine the degree of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Types of hair loss (alopecia)

Alopecia areata (nested)

Symptoms:

• loss of hair in a specific area of ​​the head, i.e. "Partial" or "nested" baldness;
• changes in the structure of the hair growing around the alopecia areata - they noticeably become thinner and become brittle.

The severity of alopecia areata:

1 degree - local-type baldness with the formation of a bald patch of a round (oval shape);

2 degree - partial baldness, when the lesions merge with each other;

Grade 3 - complete loss of hair on the entire head.

Diffuse alopecia (symptomatic)

Symptoms:

1. even hair loss all over the head;
2. thinning and thinning of the remaining hair.

Reasons: hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, lack of protein - these factors provoke an increase in the sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone, which is a product of the interaction between testosterone and a substance produced by the sebaceous glands.

Penetrating into the hair follicle, dihydrotestosterone disrupts its normal nutrition and blocks blood flow, which leads to weakening and hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia

Symptoms:

• thinning, hair loss in men - mainly in the middle of the head (fronto-parietal part), in women - in the parting

If earlier this type of alopecia was considered traditional male pattern baldness, today more and more women are faced with androgenic hair loss, since their hormonal background is often characterized by a predominance of male hormones.

What to do with hair loss: an action plan

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease. To do this, you will need to undergo diagnostics.

What tests can the doctor prescribe:

• general blood analysis;
• analysis for the content of serum iron;
• analysis of hormones of the reproductive system and thyroid gland;
• blood biochemistry;
• analysis for latent infections;
• trichogram, spectral analysis of hair.

Also, a trichologist can refer you to a consultation with an endocrinologist, therapist, dermatologist. They will rule out or confirm the presence of any disease and, if necessary, prescribe additional tests.

Many ladies mistakenly believe that external exposure to the scalp will quickly stop intense hair loss.

However, it is precisely the cause of the inhibition of the hair follicles that needs to be eradicated. In most cases, positive dynamics is observed after a change in diet, daily regimen or habits.

What a doctor can prescribe:

1. vitamin and mineral supplements in capsule form;
2. oral medications (for example, iron tablets are prescribed for iron deficiency anemia);
3. means for restoring local blood circulation (sprays, serums, ointments, shampoos);
4. home or salon cosmetic procedures;
5. homeopathic medicines;
6. scalp massage;
7. folk remedies.

Treatment

Treatment of alopecia is a rather complicated process that requires a professional approach. If you see that literally every day more and more hair remains on the comb or in the bathroom drain, but less on the head, do not waste time - contact a specialist.

A trichologist will conduct an examination and refer you to a series of tests. This is necessary in order to establish the specific cause of incipient alopecia, and then successfully eliminate it.

If the "root" of the problem lies in the development of internal diseases, you will need additional help from other specialists: an endocrinologist, a gynecologist, a neurologist. For the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, hormone therapy is prescribed. Special hormonal preparations are used to stop hair loss. And hair growth stimulants will help to awaken or restore hair follicles.

As part of the treatment of baldness, various hardware procedures have proven themselves well. The most common today are:

• Darsonvalization - a method that involves the impact of high-frequency pulsed currents on the nerve endings, blood vessels, cell structures, sebaceous and sweat glands of the scalp. As a result, a short-term spasm occurs, followed by expansion of the capillaries, which improves the microcirculation of blood and lymph in the tissues of the scalp. The delivery of nutrients and oxygen, the outflow of venous blood and lymph is accelerated, the acid-base balance is normalized, and the conditions for the development of fungi are eliminated.
• Mesotherapy - the introduction of special restorative medicinal compositions and individually prepared vitamin "cocktails" by means of injections into the scalp. The delivered active substances act locally, without penetrating into the blood.
• Galvanic scalp peeling - hardware technique that combines the action of peeling serums and galvanic current. As a result of the procedures, a deep cleansing of the scalp is achieved: removal of keratinized skin particles, sebum, opening of pores.
• Plasma therapy - injection of plasma obtained from the patient's own blood. The course of procedures promotes revitalization of stem cells, restoration of the normal state of the scalp, activation of hair follicles.

A simple procedure that you can do on your own

Massage is one of the most popular methods of combating hair thinning. For therapeutic purposes, massage is combined with the use of drugs and special cosmetic products. Useful procedures can even be done independently, at home. The effect of massage is due to its ability to stimulate active points on the head, "accelerate" blood circulation.

The massage can be performed using a variety of techniques. The easiest way is to do manual massage. It is enough to massage the scalp with your fingertips for a few minutes in a circular motion. Additionally, you can rub in special oils or other products.

Another way is to massage your scalp using a natural bristle brush. Aroma massage has the effect of a relaxing SPA procedure. To do this, you need an essential oil. Rub a small amount of oil into the hair roots, spreading it evenly over the entire head. Massage should be performed regularly, preferably 2 times a day. The procedure also has contraindications.

So, massage should be abandoned if there are injuries on the scalp, signs of fungal infection. Also, the list of contraindications includes a hung body temperature and high blood pressure.

Prophylaxis

To minimize the risk of developing baldness, you need to take a number of preventive measures:

1. Give up bad habits.
2. Review your menu. In your diet should be more foods rich in iron, zinc, selenium, vitamins B, C, H. Replace fatty and spicy foods with healthier foods. Try to reduce the amount of consumed sugar, caffeine. But at the same time, do not torture your body with strict diets. The diet should be balanced and varied.
3. Avoid stressful situations and intense emotional distress.
4. Carefully read the labels of purchased hair products, give preference to products with safe, gentle formulations.
5. Expose curls to less heat, such as blow-drying, curling, or straightening with an iron.
6. Protect hair and scalp from direct sunlight, frost. Wear hats when going outside, not only during the cold season, but also in summer.
7. Do not braid your hair in tight braids or tails, do not use elastic bands and hairpins that tightly fix curls and leave kinks
8. Improve scalp nutrition with niacin

Hair Loss Remedies

To effectively treat hair loss in women, it is necessary to additionally “help” them from the outside. There are a huge number of folk methods and modern tools that will help to cope with the problem.

Home Treatment: How to Stop Hair Loss Quickly

Every housewife will surely find the necessary products and ingredients in her refrigerator or on a cabinet shelf.

• Oil mask from hair loss. Rub castor or burdock oil into your skin, massage your head thoroughly, put on a plastic cap. After 30 minutes, rinse your hair with warm water.
• Egg yolk for beauty and density. Apply a mixture of several yolks separated from the whites to the scalp, rub thoroughly. After half an hour, rinse your hair with peppermint tea.
• Nettle gargle. Pour 100 g of nettle leaves with 400 ml of six percent vinegar and 300 ml of water. Let sit for 5 hours and rinse your hair every time you wash.

Onion mask for hair loss. Grate the onion, grind it with 1 tbsp. spoon of olive oil. Apply the resulting mixture to the scalp and massage for 15 minutes, then cover with a plastic cap, warm with a towel and stand for another half hour. Then rinse thoroughly. However, there is an important nuance here.

An onion mask leaves a rather strong odor that can last for several days, and on curly hair for up to several weeks. Therefore, after washing, rinse your hair with water acidified with lemon and vinegar to neutralize the fragrance.You can also add lemon juice directly to the mask.

"Burning" recipe. Take castor oil and pepper tincture and mix in a ratio of 1 to 2. Apply to hair and scalp one hour before washing, cover with a cap and towel. After a while, wash your hair with shampoo. It is useful to perform such a mask up to three times a week.

Firming mask. Pour 50 g of rye flour with 100 ml of boiling water and keep covered for 5 minutes. Add 100 ml of olive oil, 5 g of dry mustard and a little lemon juice and mix thoroughly. Apply the resulting mixture to your hair for half an hour under a warming cap (as described in the recipes above). The mask is washed off with running water. Instead of flour, you can use soaked rye bread without a crust.

Compresses with gifts of nature

Chop the parsley root thoroughly, squeeze the juice into a glass. Saturate the cheesecloth with juice and place it on your head under a warming cap. After an hour, rinse your hair with warm water.

1. If you have an aloe bush at home, take 2 old leaves, chop and squeeze the juice. Place the gauze soaked in the juice on your head, making sure that the juice does not get into your eyes. To do this, wrap the compress with plastic wrap. Wash off the juice after half an hour.
2. Pour 100 g of green needles of a coniferous tree (spruce, pine, fir) with 1 liter of boiling water, heat in a water bath for 20 minutes. Strain the broth and rub into your head for 15 minutes before washing your hair. This recipe not only allows you to treat hair loss in women, but also stimulates the growth of new hairs.

Video: Top 20 Causes of Hair Loss

Health-saving channel

Conclusion

Remember that the beauty of your hair is also the key to your success. It is not so difficult to stop the baldness process, the main thing is to contact a competent specialist in time.