The Truth About Hair Loss in Women

What Causes Hair Loss in Women?

According to Dr. Robert Jones of the Hair Transplant Centre in Oakville, ON, hair loss in women is largely attributed to genetics—he estimates that nearly 80 to 90 per cent of hair loss in both men and is due to a family history of the condition. But some women can experience hair loss as the result of a thyroid dysfunction, pregnancy hormones or because of side effects of medications such as antidepressants and birth control pills. Nick Dimakos, founder of SureThik International in Toronto agrees stress and lower-than-normal levels of estrogen are other contributing factors to hair loss in females, says. Low levels of iron and over-use of chemical hair products such as artificial dyes can also lead to thinning hair, which can be especially difficult for women, for whom hair loss is much less socially acceptable than it is for men. “Women lose about 25 per cent of their hair before even noticing there’s a problem,” Dimakos says. “It can be devastating for them.”