What is Hair Fall in Women & How to Manage It

While hairfall in women is irrefutably common, it is often less discussed than male hair fall. The causes of hair fall in women varies, so we have consulted hair care specialists, Dercos, to illuminate this common hair concern, how it differs from normal hair fall and how to manage it moving forward.

 

¹https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/july/female-pattern-hair-loss

 

 

What are the phases of hair renewal?

 

In order to understand what causes hair fall in women, we will first examine the hair renewal cycle and the amount of hair fall that is considered normal. Each hair follicle operates on its own independent, continuous cycle. The hair growth cycle is characterised by four phases: anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen.²

 

• Anagen (growth): spanning anywhere between 2-8 years on average, this is the longest phase of the hair growth cycle. Here, the full hair shaft is produced from the follicle.

   

• Catagen (transition): this phase signifies the transition from growth to resting, and typically lasts two weeks. At this point the follicle regresses and shrinks in diameter.

   

• Telogen (rest): the resting phase of the hair growth cycle lasts between 2-3 months. Following this, the hair naturally falls.

   

• Exogen (shedding): at this point in the cycle, telogen hairs fall to make way for new growth.² In terms of what is normal hairfall for a woman, 100-150 hairs per day is typically considered normal.³

 

In a normal hair cycle, 90% of follicles will be in the anagen phase, 1% in the catagen phase and 9% in the telogen phase.⁴

 

²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9917549/

³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/

⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5338843/

 

 

What Causes hair fall in women?

 

The causes of hair fall in women can be attributed to various factors, including genetics, age, lifestyle or hormonal changes, medical conditions or certain medical treatments. Some of the primary explanations for hair fall in women include:

 

• Androgenetic alopecia – commonly referred to as pattern baldness
• Anagen effluvium – the sudden fall of hairs in the growth phase
• Telogen effluvium – characterised by excessive shedding; hairs prematurely enter the telogen phase

 

Continue reading as we explore these conditions in depth.

 

Androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as pattern hair loss, is a genetically pre-determined condition that occurs due to the body’s extreme response to the presence of androgens. This androgen response shortens the hair growth stage, which results in thinner, shorter hair follicles.5 Androgenetic alopecia can affect up to 50% of women and men5, and is one of the most common diagnoses of hair loss in women.6 The onset of androgenetic alopecia can realistically occur any age after puberty but is found to increase with age7; it also commonly appears in menopause.8 In women, this gradual diffuse hair loss is most noticeable over the central scalp and hair parting, which can widen over time.

 

⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/

⁶https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28722458/

7https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31677111/

⁸https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10092469/

 

 

Telogen effluvium

 

Telogen effluvium refers to excessive hair fall as anagen hair roots are prematurely pushed into the telogen (resting) phase¹⁰.. Telogen effluvium isn’t a condition in the same way as anagen effluvium, but it is the body’s response to ‘triggers’, typically in the form of medication, diet, and physiological and emotional changes. Telogen effluvium often occurs 2-3 months after a triggering event.¹² These triggers may include:

 

• Postpartum hair fall – surges in oestrogen hormones during pregnancy promote anagen growth, but after giving birth, oestrogen and androgen hormones regulate again, resulting in hair fall.⁸
• Stress – this can be either emotional or physiological (for instance, as a response to chronic illness or surgical trauma).¹¹
• Diet – snutritional deficiencies, particularly zinc, iron, protein, and fatty acids, can trigger telogen effluvium. Extreme calorie restriction can also trigger hairfall¹¹
• Medication – depending on the individual, medication is a possible cause of hair fall in women. These can include the oral contraceptive pill, androgens, anti-depressants, retinoids and beta-blockers.¹²

 

¹⁰https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23974578/

¹¹https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/76/6/361.full.pdf

¹²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7320655/

There is no singular method for how to stop hair fall in women, but having insight into the underlying causes of your hair fall can inform management options. For instance, if you have telogen effluvium and find that it is triggered by stress or vitamin deficiencies, you can discuss an ongoing plan with a trusted medical professional.  

There are also a number of hair care options to help target hair fall and the appearance of thinning. If you’re wondering how to prevent hair fall  in women from exacerbating, a tailored shampoo, conditioner and anti-hair fall serum may support your hair care regimen. 

Dercos Aminexil Pro 5 is an anti-hair fall serum that has been developed in partnerships with dermatologists to help combat recurrent or established hair fall,. This serum has 5 key targets: hair fall, stimulating the scalp, hair density, rebalancing the scalp, and increasing scalp resilience. Bolster this product with The Dercos Energising Shampoo and Energising Conditioner, formulated to fortify, nourish and reduce hair fall caused by breakage.



Up next, discover the benefits of vitamin E can help with hair strengthening and hair fall targeted routines for women.