HELPLINE

For specific advice or to arrange an appointment,
please call the Cotswold Trichology Centre

HAIR HELPLINE
on
01386 421703

Consultant Trichologist
Sally-Ann Tarver MIT.LTTS

The Cotswold Trichology Centre,
4B Port St. Evesham,
Worcestershire.
WR11 1AN

Telephone
01386 421703

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Hair Loss In Women, Common Causes and Simple Solutions for Female Hair Loss Treatment

Chronic Telogen Effluvium
The most common type of hair loss in women, Chronic Telogen Effluvium (diffuse hair loss), is characterised as an increase in hair loss and decrease in hair thickness over a period of time.

Approximately 30% of menstruating women (almost 5 million) are affected by CTE in the UK, so if you are loosing hair, you're not alone! It can take years to repair the damage. Stopping Chronic Telogen Effluvium and regaining hair thickness, depends on establishing the true cause and dealing with it as quickly as possible.

What Causes Chronic Telogen Effluvium?
It is often the case that there are a number of problems, each contributing to female hair loss. Women are increasingly under greater stress, high-pressure jobs, juggling work and family life, leaving less time to consider their own health and wellbeing. Stress 'burns off' vital nutrients such as B vitamins which are vital for good hair quality and growth. Faddy dieting, crash weight loss, vegetarian and low protein diets can all contribute to hair loss in women.

The average female requires approximately 40g of good quality protein (grams of protein per 100g) per day. Hair consists largely of protein, a deficiency may cause hairshafts to become finer, weak and break easily. A protein deficiency can be recognised through hair colour changes, dark hair in particular exhibits 'orange tones' or lightens.

Other nutrients including iron, zinc, copper, selenium, vitamin A and essential fatty acids are vital for hair health. However, it is not recommended to attempt to design your own hair nutritional program without the help of a professional. You may waste time and money or cause further problems by using the wrong supplements.

Low Iron (Ferritin) and Female Hair Loss
The most common cause of hair loss in women, without doubt is low Iron stores. A large majority of the women who consult a Trichologist have sub optimum Iron stores for good hair growth. A study conducted on 1000 women revealed 33% suffered hair loss, 90% of these women suffered low Iron stores and 10% were caused by Genetic or other factors.

GP's are often unaware of exactly which blood tests to carry out, most opting for the Full Blood Count and Haemoglobin tests for Anaemia. However, the most important blood test for female hair loss is the Serum Ferritin, a test for iron stores. Research has not established a link between low Haemoglobin and hair loss as they have with low Serum Ferritin. Serum Ferritin levels can be raised most successfully with a combined therapy of Ferrous Glycine Sulphate, Vitamin C, L-Lysine and Vitamin B12. Once the Serum Ferritin reaches a certain trigger level, hair loss should decrease and hair growth slowly increase.

This information is not intended for women to diagnose or treat their hair loss. If you are suffering from female hair loss, I would strongly recommend you consult a Trichologist.

My hair was so incredibly thin I could see scalp from every angle, it had been that way for over a decade. I’d given up hope of ever having normal hair when my daughter persuaded me to see a Trichologist. I booked to see Trichologist Sally-Ann Tarver at the Cotswold Trichology Centre and went to my first appointment. Sally-Ann asked questions about all sorts of things, I thought I was fairly healthy until she asked me how I felt - I was permanently exhausted.

I had donated blood twice a year for 10 years, coincidentally the same length of time my hair had been thinning. She said my Iron stores could be low and asked me to see my GP for a blood test. My GP thought it was unnecessary and said my hair was thin because of my age. He told me hair loss had nothing to do with iron but would do the test to prove a point. The test showed I had a Ferritin level of 4. I was shocked, my GP had been sure I didn’t have an iron problem but I was seriously anaemic. I started prescription iron right away and had another blood test three months later. My Ferritin level was now 30 and I was told to stop the iron.

I went back to see Sally-Ann for my next appointment three months later. She looked at my hair and told me it was growing surprisingly well. She explained my Ferritin level was still not perfect and my hair might get better still if I increased my iron stores just a little more. She suggested taking an Iron supplement for women’s hair loss and some other vitamins and minerals plus a female hair loss treatment from La Biosthetique. The months went on and my hair became thicker than it had been for 10 years. Sally-Ann told me I need only see her again if the problem returned.

By 2007 I had become obese. I joined a diet program which promised weight loss of a stone a month. I was a little concerned for my hair and called Sally-Ann for some advice. She wasn’t impressed and tried to persuade me to change my mind. She said it was my choice but she would expect me to loose hair if I lost weight too quickly. I started the diet and lost a massive 9lb a week but my hair fell out almost as quickly as the weight dropped off. I asked my diet consultant if it was normal and she said some people experience a bit of hair loss but not to worry, it would grow back and I’d be thin.

I carried on for a few weeks but my hair was falling out in handfuls, I called Sally-Ann to ask if there was anything I could do. She told me I was loosing weight too fast and to eat some food. The crash diet was causing my hair to shut down as if I was in starvation. The program only allowed 500 calories a day spread between 4 meal replacements and absolutely no food. I told the diet consultant my hair was falling out and wanted to stop but she told me to stay on the plan and introduce a small salad at lunchtime.

I lost 4 stone in 9 weeks. My hair had become so thin I booked an appointment with my Trichologist. As she combed my hair it fell on my shoulders and the floor. She said I had either developed diffuse Alopecia and my immune system was attacking my hair or my hair had just shut down from calorie malnutrition. She told me to stop the plan immediately and go back to eating food. I went back on the vitamins, minerals and female hair loss treatments I had been on years ago with the addition of oral Aloe Vera Gel, just in case my immune system needed help.

Within a few weeks I had barely a few strands of hair left, I looked bald. I wore a hat permanently to cover my scalp. I ate healthy food, took my supplements and saw Sally-Ann every couple of weeks for electrotherapy. Two months later I saw the first signs of hair growth, I was so relieved, I thought I could be bald forever. My hair grew back quickly over the next few months, curly and even thicker than it was before.