Is Hair Loss in Young Women Common?

You might wonder if hair loss in young women is common. Or does it only impact older women? If you’re experiencing hair loss and are female, you’re not alone. Today, more than 50% of women experience balding. 

This article will discuss how common you’ll find hair loss in young women. Read on to explore the answer to this question and much more for prevention and treatment today!

Is Hair Thinning Young Common? 

While female balding is less common, it tends to affect postmenopausal women and is often inherited. When it begins, it’s the thinning of your hair on the top of your head. 

The earlier you find hair loss, the better chance you have of treating and preventing further hair loss. Sometimes, it can come down to health problems or diet adjustments. Even if there isn’t a simple cure, you can take a look at a hair loss FAQ sheet that’ll go over different products for treatment. Conditions that can cause hair loss include: 

• Ringworm
• Scleroderma
• Trichorrhexis invaginata
• Hypothyroidism
• Hashimoto disease
• Celiac Disease
• And many others

Early Signs

Take a look at your hair and notice if it seems like your hair is falling out into your hairbrush more than usual. Take a look at your pillow when you wake up to see how much hair you lose each night. 

For women, hair loss is normally around your center part where it widens over time. When your hair is pulled back you might notice that you’ll see more of your scalp than usual. Dry or discolored skin, scalp irritation, or small bald patches mean something can be wrong. Speak to your doctor right away if you experience this. 

Hair loss signs can include bald spots, overall thinning, full loss, or handfuls of hair. Bald spots might appear patchy or circular. It can cause a painful or itchy scalp. 

The Different Types of Balding In Young Women

Your hair loss can be broken down into reactive and genetic. Reactive hair loss is when there’s a trigger that causes balding. It can mean that something within your body is upset, or you’re experiencing an internal imbalance. This can mean an illness, nutritional deficiency, crash dieting, or severe stress. 

Alopecia

Alopecia translates to hair loss. One form of alopecia is the cicatricial alopecia. This is where irreversible hair loss occurs through scarring. Your follicles are replaced with scar tissue instead of hair. 

Alopecia areata is where you have patchy hair loss. It can occur on the body or head. Androgenetic alopecia is hair loss due to genetics. It’s known as female-pattern baldness. Traumatic alopecia is when hair loss occurs due to hair styling products. Your hair breaks from chemicals, hot combs, straighteners, and blow dryers. 

Can Stress Cause Balding? 

If you’re experiencing physical or emotional stress, it can lead to hair loss in women. Whether it’s a serious illness, death in a family, or major surgery. 

Other Causes

Not getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet can lead to hair loss. Not getting enough iron in your diet can lead to hair loss as well. A deficiency in amino acid L-lysine, B-6, and B-12 can also cause hair loss. 

Medications

Certain medications can cause hair loss as well. Chemotherapy is one of the most common hair loss causes. While these medications can cause hair loss in some, everyone is different. Other medications include: 

• Anticoagulants
• Thyroid medications
• Antidepressants
• Beta-blockers
• Anti-convulsants

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can cause hair loss. If you find lesions on your scalp with hair loss, this might be a sign of lupus. Some lupus medications can also lead to hair loss as well. 

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are a drug that’s often abused by athletes. They can impact your body and cause hair loss. Once you stop taking this medication, you should have your hair grow back. 

Aging

As women age, they’re more likely to lose hair. While it’s most common in postmenopausal women, you can find it in teenagers as well. 

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances can lead to weight gain, hair loss, acne, etc. If you have an excess of androgens, it can lead to hair loss as well. Those born with a genetic predisposition to follicle sensitivity are more likely to experience hair loss. 

Progesterone can make your hair loss worse. It can cause hair loss as well. Some birth control methods that can lead to hair loss include: 

• Birth control patches
• Birth control vaginal rings
• Implants
• Birth control shots

If you have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or hypothyroidism, these can cause hair loss as well. Talk to your doctor if you think you might have one of these conditions. 

Your doctor might test you for these if: 

• You have trouble gaining or losing weight
• Hormonal acne
• Irregular periods
• Trouble with temperature changes
• New hair growth on your body or hair

Dandruff

When your scalp is itchy or inflamed it can lead to hair loss. Dandruff is one of the most common reasons for hair loss. In order to treat mild dandruff, you can use a shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione. Find a conditioner and shampoo that work well for your hair, and in treating dandruff. 

A more serious condition, seborrheic dermatitis due to the buildup of oil and yeast can cause dandruff as well. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes thick patches of skin. If you experience either of these conditions, you’ll want to speak with your dermatologist. 

Normal Hair Loss

Losing about half an inch each month is normal. Once you lose hair, you’ll have new hair grow and replace it.

You might find that you lose a hundred strands per day. If you’re finding large clumps of hair falling out then that’s a cause for concern. It’s a good idea to speak with your doctor about any changes in your health, diet, etc. 

Telogen Effluvium

When there are hormonal shifts in your body such as stress or pregnancy, it can cause telogen effluvium. This is when your hair follicles are dormant and don’t produce hair. This condition normally only affects the top of the scalp. Researchers are still exploring more about this condition. It’s often a temporary type of hair loss that can become better over time. 

Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis is ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection of the scalp. It does best in wet environments and spreads easily. If you remain sweaty for a long period of time or don’t bathe much you’re more likely to experience this. 

Crash Dieting

Crash dieting is dangerous for your body overall since it thinks you’re starving. It can also cause you to not get enough nutrition in your diet. In order to prevent hair loss, it’s best to choose a weight loss program that’s slow and steady. Your best bet is to lose no more than 2 pounds per week. 

Overprocessing Hair

Choose products that hydrate your scalp and hair. Avoid harsh chemicals and straightening procedures. This includes perms as well. As time goes on, this can lead to your hair follicles not growing back. 

Feeding Your Hair

It can take a few months to a year before you see changes to your hair. One food you can eat that helps with hair growth is salmon. This is due to the omega-3 fatty acids that you find in this fish. It’s also rich in B vitamins which are vital for the formation of red blood cells. They’re what carry oxygen to your body cells. A lack of B vitamins can cause your hair to fall out. Other healthy omega 3s include oatmeal, nuts, chia seeds, shellfish, low-fat dairy, and whole grain. 

Spinach

Spinach has plenty of iron and folate which is beneficial for your hair. A lack of iron in your diet can lead to hair loss.

Lentils

Lentils have iron and protein. Both of these are important for hair growth. 

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes have vitamin A which is great for obtaining thicker hair. If you don’t have enough vitamin A in your diet, it can lead to brittle and dry hair.

Other examples are cantaloupe, pumpkin, papaya, butternut squash, and carrots. Kale, dark green leafy vegetables, and asparagus are great options as well. Keep in mind that too much vitamin A can cause hair loss. 

Eggs

Eggs have plenty of B vitamins and biotin which are great for your hair. Eggs are one of the best foods you can have for healthy hair. 

Blueberries

Vitamin C is important for hair growth as well. Another name for Vitamin C is known as L-ascorbic acid. It’s vital for the biosynthesis of certain neurotransmitters, L-carnitine, and collagen. Since vitamin C is an antioxidant, it protects your cells from radical damage. This can include hair follicle cells as well. 

Managing Hair Loss

Along with hair loss treatment, you’ll want to manage your stress and eat a healthy diet. Make sure that you avoid intense hair care, and get enough sleep each night. 

Hair Styling Tips

How you treat your hair at a young age will impact it as you become older. 

Weaves, twists, braids, and tight ponytails can cause pressure on your hair roots, and hot combs and relaxers cause inflammation. . This can lead to permanent hair loss or scarring. Your hair loss preventative habits needs to include avoiding bonding glues for weaves. Take out your extensions and weaves every 3-4 weeks. When you receive braids, leave them in for only 2-3 months. Choose lower settings for irons and blow dryers. Take breaks from hair styling as well. 

Preventing Hair Loss

Only wash as often as your hair needs it. If you don’t wash enough, it can cause a buildup of oil and products. Washing too much can strip your hair of natural oils. This can lead to breakage and dry hair. Wash your hair about 2-3 times a week. Adjust this schedule to your needs. 

To keep your hair looking glossy and full, use a conditioner after your shampoo. Don’t use too much conditioner since it’ll weigh your hair down. Consider trying leave-on conditioners for your hair. This is because they’ll keep your hair moisturized during the day. It’ll help protect your hair from heat styling that leads to breakage and thinning. 

For deep conditioning, choose hair masks. If you notice that your hair is dry and brittle, a deep-conditioning mask can help to make your hair shinier and healthier. 

Avoid heat styling or limit it since it can lead to hair breakage. Instead, choose styling options without much pressure on your scalp or hair. 

Coping

Keep in mind that much hair loss in young women is temporary. It’s important to be patient as you wait for regrowth. New hair growth can be a different color or texture as well. While you’re waiting for your hair to grow back, consider covering your hair with a wig, scarf, or hair extensions if it makes you uncomfortable. Reach out to loved ones, family, and friends for support. 

Now that you’ve explored this guide on hair loss in young women, you should have a better idea of how common it is. No matter what age you are, you should never ignore hair loss.