| Ninety percent of hair loss cases in women can be | | | | induced by certain drugs. Drugs that cause this kind |
| attributed to hereditary thinning of hair. Thinning of | | | | of hair loss are cytoxic drugs that are given for |
| hair in such cases starts in an early age (20-30) which | | | | cancer therapy. These drugs and other such stop the |
| can even lead to pattern baldness in women. | | | | proliferation of cells which are responsible for hair |
| However, hair loss in women is not always of that | | | | growth. In contrast to telogen effluvium, anagen |
| serious nature. Normally, hair loss in women can be | | | | effluvium involves the shedding of the anagen hair |
| reverted. | | | | which can be recognized by a tapered or feathered |
| There are a number of reasons for such sudden but | | | | root end. This condition results in rapid hair loss, |
| restorable hair loss. It is advisable that women in such | | | | sometimes to extent of loosing all the scalp hair. The |
| cases see a hair restoration physician who is able to | | | | hair loss can be very extensive, but often reversible |
| evaluate the causes for the hair loss. Young women | | | | when the medication is stopped. |
| having sudden hair loss may also need to do a hair | | | | Other than the drugs causing hair loss, there are a |
| analysis test for ascertaining nutritional deficiencies or | | | | number of other factors responsible for sudden hair |
| for ruling out certain causes. The sudden hair loss | | | | loss. These include the following: |
| occurring in women can be categorized as follows: | | | | Diet deficiency - Lack of vitamins or minerals and |
| Drugs that cause hair loss | | | | particularly iron |
| Telogen effluvium | | | | Crash dieting - Hair follicles in this case do not grow |
| There are a large number of drugs that cause hair | | | | for the lack of nutrients. |
| loss leading to a condition which is called telogen | | | | Hormones/Pregnancy/Childbirth - Abnormal hormone |
| effluvium (TE). In this case, most hair in active | | | | levels in women especially during pregnancy and child |
| growth phase is shifted into a resting (telogen), | | | | birth are known to result in hair loss due to lack of |
| non-growth stage. Hairs that remain in a non growing | | | | nutrients, as the embryo or feeding the baby causes |
| stage for few months are finally shed in large | | | | a drain on supply |
| numbers. Some times this condition can be confused | | | | |
| with genetic female hair loss. However, normally TE is | | | | Fever induced alopecia - High body temperature, in |
| characterized by generalized thinning of the hair which | | | | response to infectious chronic disease, stresses |
| does not follow any particular pattern. There is more | | | | dividing cells of the hair follicle and they respond with |
| thinning on top of the scalp than at the sides and | | | | reduced activity and stop growing. |
| back of the scalp. The hairs that are shed are | | | | Ultra violet (UV) radiation - Low dose UV radiation |
| typically telogen hairs which can be recognized by a | | | | may destroy some of the sensitive hair follicle cells |
| small bulb of keratin on the root end. Drugs that are | | | | and slow down growth activity |
| known to cause sudden hair loss are the following: | | | | Acute blood loss - Blood loss effectively starves the |
| Oral contraceptives | | | | hair follicles of nutrients forcing them into reduced |
| Anti thyroid medication | | | | activity |
| Blood pressure medication (such as beta-blockers or | | | | Hyperthyroidism or |
| water pills) | | | | Hypothyroidism - Under and over activity of thyroid |
| Blood thinning medication such as coumarin, heparin | | | | hormones have a profound affect on hair follicle |
| and propanolol | | | | activity leading to hair loss. |
| Excessive vitamin A | | | | Extreme physical stress such as surgery - Surgery |
| Cholesterol-lowering drugs | | | | places extreme physical and emotional stress on the |
| Anti-histamines/ulcer drugs | | | | individual and can lead to telogen effluvium |
| Anti-convulsant drugs | | | | Emotional stress - Chronic emotional stress or sudden |
| Anti-thyroid drugs | | | | shock can adversely affects hair follicles although the |
| Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | | | | mechanism by which it works is not known |
| Arthritis drugs | | | | Severe illness - Severe or chronic illness alters the |
| Tricyclic anti-depressant drugs | | | | normal functioning of the human body and this may |
| Telogen effluvium is not normally a permanent form | | | | have an impact on hair follicles. |
| of hair loss. Eventually, the hair follicles can recover. | | | | Excessive washing, drying and perming - All these |
| Recovery and return to normal hair density is very | | | | process cause disruption of hair cuticles at some |
| slow and can also take many months after the | | | | places resulting in swelling and fraying at those places. |
| causative factor is removed. | | | | It may ultimately lead to hair loss. |
| Anagen Effluvium | | | | But as in most cases hair loss is not permanent. Hair |
| Besides the telogen effluvium, there is another | | | | growth can be restored after the factor causing hair |
| condition called as anagen effluvium which can be | | | | loss is removed. |