At present, there are more than 25 million women in the United States who are experiencing hair loss and it causes them great grief. The most common causes of women's hair loss are associated with pregnancy, poor nutrition, major surgery, severe stress, thyroid disease, chemotherapy, high fever and other severe infections. These conditions however, are usually temporary and when cured, hair loss eventually stops and re-grows in time.

Unlike men who become totally bald as they age, many women experience significant hair thinning, especially around the forehead and the crown of the scalp. This usually begins at the beginning of menopause. As women age, their skin also ages due to decline in estrogen levels, which also causes thinning of the hair. At the onset of menopause, a women's estrogen levels decline and more testosterone becomes available resulting in a shorter hair growth cycle and finer hair strands. Eventually shedding of hair occurs. At the age of 80 to 90, the women's hair follicles have shrink so much that hair growth completely stops.

Experts say that the natural growth of hair is at the rate of about ½ inch each month with each hair having a growth phase of 2 to 6 years. The hair then stops growing for some time and begins to fall out. This cycle goes on until maturity. However, a group of hormones called androgens interfere with this natural process of hair growth. According to dermatologists, androgen may include DHT or dihydrotestosterone. When testosterone comes in contact with the enzymes in the hair cell, it is transformed into the more potent DHT and this binds with receptors deep in the follicles. Build up of DHT causes the follicles to shrink. Some follicles die resulting in significant hair loss.

Whatever the cause of hair loss in women, it is simply hard to accept. After all, many people feel that hair makes a woman's face prettier. Absence of hair change the appearance of even the most beautiful face. If hair loss cannot be prevented, it is best to really go out of your way to have it cured. There are many treatments available. Some treatments are over the counter while others are more drastic and would need the supervision of a medical practitioner like doctors and dermatologists. Two of the FDA approved and most popular drug-based cures for hair loss is minoxidil and finasteride, also called the wonder drug Propecia. Only these two drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to cure hair loss in the U.S. The methods that would require the doctor's help are surgery, hair implants, low-level laser therapy, hair multiplication and the like. Concealment of hair loss may also be an alternative. There are also many ways to do it like wearing a wig or toupee and through various ways of combing the hair.

As you can see there are many things that can cause a women's hair to thin. Thankfully there are effective treatments and remedies available. To get more information on how to effectively stop hair loss you can download the article below.