Reasons for Thinning Hair in Women

Thinning hair may cause women embarrassment and distress about their physical appearance. Although thinning of hair normally occurs as people age, other medical conditions can cause this to begin at a younger age or progress faster than expected. Reasons for thinning hair in women may include hormonal issues, genetic factors, illnesses or stress.

Heredity

• Female pattern baldness is a hereditary disease that may cause the hair to prematurely thin, fall out or grow more slowly.

Scalp Damage

• A type of hair loss called cicatricial, or scarring alopecia, causes thinning hair in women by forming scar tissue on the scalp from which hair cannot grow.

Alopecia Areata

• Alopecia areata is an immune disorder which causes the body to attack the hair follicles, resulting in the loss of hair.

Telogen Effluvium

• Telogen effluvium is an abnormal change of the hair growth cycle and may be caused by illnesses, weight loss or stress.

Styling

• Traction alopecia is caused by pulling the hair and breaking it from styling. Excessive hair brushing can also cause thinning hair in women.

Medication

• According to the Mayo Clinic, taking birth control pills may cause thinning hair or hair loss in some women.

Hormones

• Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy, after childbirth or during menopause may cause a temporary thinning of hair in women.