Why Some Women Go Bald

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women — and some men — suffer from premature hair loss or pattern baldness. Here are the usual causes and what can be done to address the problem.

THYROID PROBLEMS

One of the roles of the thyroid gland is to regulate body processes, such as metabolism. A thyroid problem can affect the normal timing of the hair cycle. Usually, hair will ‘rest’ for three months before falling out. With a thyroid problem, this can be reduced to just a few weeks. The hair will also have a tendency to fall out sooner, before growing to a normal, reasonable length.

The good news is that once the thyroid problem has been treated (in the case of an underactive thyroid, this is usually with the hormone thyroxine) the hair loss is completely reversible.

CONTRACEPTIVE PILL

All oral contraceptives contain progestogens, synthetic hormones that produce similar effects to the natural hormone progesterone — needed to help prevent a fertilised egg being implanted.

Some of these progestogens are good for the hair; others less so. That’s because the progestogen used can have a male hormone–like effect on hair.

Women worried about hair loss, or who have a predisposition to genetic hair loss, should speak to their GP about choosing a hair-friendly pill which lowers testosterone to a degree.

The decline in oestrogen during menopause can cause male pattern baldness in women, as the testosterone in their bodies becomes more dominant.

BEING CHUBBY

Being overweight increases the risk of metabolic syndrome — essentially a precursor to type-2 diabetes. This is where insulin levels are higher than they should be.

The problem is that a high insulin level in women can trigger a higher testosterone level — and increase the risk of baldness.

STRESS

Stress can lead to a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium — forcing the hairs into the resting state before their time.

Chronic stress might also push the immune system into overdrive so that it makes white blood cells attack the hair follicles.

Chronic stress, associated with shock, is also linked to a specific form of hair loss, alopecia areata. The condition affects 2 per cent of the population. Treatment is available, although the condition often clears up itself.