Alopecia or loss of hair is a medical condition wherein hormonal imbalances exist in your body system. Also, improper hair care may induce hair loss and thinning in women. A few of the most important and common reasons for hair loss in women are explained below.

Androgenic Alopecia. Like men, women can also have this condition, which results from conversion of the male hormone androgen to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is known to be harmful for the hair follicles and causes excessive hair loss in both men and women. While men develop baldness, women are more likely to experience diffuse thinning of scalp hair due to androgenic alopecia. The conditions that can cause androgenic alopecia in women are polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, and taking birth control pills with high androgen index.

Telogen Effluvium. This condition is one of the most common causes for hair loss in women. Telogen effluvin can result from high level of stress and trauma that interferes in the normal cycle of hair growth. Major surgery, severe infection, extreme level of mental stress, malnutrition, as well as childbirth are some examples of some conditions that can cause hair loss in women, up to a period of 3 months from the occurrence of the particular traumatic event. However, telogen effluvium does not lead to permanent hair loss, as the hair usually returns within two to three months from the stressful event.

Alopecia Areata. Alopecia areata is one of the most important medical reasons for hair loss in women. Hair loss is characterized by patchy baldness and can affect the entire body, including the scalp. This is considered to be an autoimmune disorder, and found to affect both the sexes equally. Sometimes, the lost hair returns spontaneously without any medical treatment, while at other times, hair loss can be permanent.

Hormonal Changes. This is the case when the level of estrogen in the body decreases during menopause. During pregnancy, rising level of estrogen can induce hair growth, while the post pregnancy period is characterized by scalp hair loss in women. However, the situation usually resolves within a few months, as the hair loss experienced after pregnancy is only temporary in nature.

Low Iron Levels. Deficiency of iron can also lead to anemia, in which case the possibility of suffering from hair loss increases. However, hair loss can also occur even if iron deficiency does not lead to anemia. Iron supplements can help, though they should be taken only after consulting a heath care professional. Otherwise, too much iron can lead to some other health problems too.

Thyroid Problems. Problems such as an overactive and under active thyroid gland, nutritional deficiency, high level of stress, over work, and excessive use hair products that contain harsh chemicals, are some other reasons for hair loss in women.