Luscious locks are important to every woman; a chic up do can instantly transform a dull outfit. Tousled waves can give you a fresh funky twist, while smooth sleek strands will command serious hair envy from onlookers. In short, they are our crowning glory, but what happens when that gorgeous halo of hair starts to shed?
Hair loss in women is becoming more common by the day and currently 4.8 million women in the UK suffer from thinning hair. It’s not restricted to any age or race. It can affect people as young as 18. Ninety five per cent of hair loss cases are caused by Androgenetic Alopedia, commonly known as hereditary hair loss. However, as Dr Shahmalak the first Asian hair transplant surgeon in the UK explains, “there are other factors involved which can result in female hair loss. These included stress, an under active or over active thyroid gland, aanaemia and chronic illness. The second most common factor is known as Telogen Efflivium where hairs shed off permanently, this can increase during pregnancy however all you need is a simple pull test to discover whether you are suffering from this.”
Other causes include Alopecia Areata. Common in young patients, this is where a single area on the scalp goes bald. The final cause is known as Traction Alopccia. This is quite common amongst women who wear hijab due to the constant pulling of the hair. Suffering from any of these types of hair loss can be devastating for women. In society where we are continually bombarded by images of beautiful women parading around complete with a full head of flowing locks, bald patches or thinning hair is deemed unattractive and can result in major self-esteem issues. For so many women, their hair is at the heart of their identity.
Make that change there are many options out there these days for hair loss. As well as visiting your GP, the shelves are packed with lotions and potions. However there are loads of practical things you can do immediately to help stop hair loss.
- Take care when styling your hair and avoid styling that put tension on your hair such as tight pony tails or plaits.
- Extreme heat damages the proteins in the hair shaft, making then fragile and liable to break off. Brushing hair during blow-drying can also cause damage.
- Stress is a key cause of hair loss and scientists have discovered that chemicals produced in the body during these periods can affect hair growth. So relax!
- Diet plays a very important part in keeping your hair healthy. Eat a balanced diet which consists of each food group including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
- Make sure you drink plenty of water to clean away all impurities. I turn this will provide optimum conditions for follicles to flourish
Asian women April 2008