To many women hair is their crowning glory, so when thinning of the hair takes place it can have a devastating affect on the individual. Hair thinning can make a woman feel less feminine and therefore no longer attractive to others.

There are many different causes of hair thinning.

Causes of hair loss in women may consist of:

Crash dieting. Where the individual engages in a low calorie diet to achieve rapid weight loss, there is reduced intake of adequate carbohydrates, protein and minerals that may eventually interfere with internal functioning of the body including hair growth.

Anaemia. It has been reported that iron deficiency can cause hair loss. This may be due to reduced oxygen and nutrient intake or malabsorption of nutrients. The following disorders have been known to have negative impact on iron stores: anorexia and/or alcoholism, intestinal disorders, heavy menstruation, pregnancy and chronic conditions. Family history can also be a cause. Low iron levels can be detected by blood tests when iron supplements might be recommended.

Hypothyroidism. This is due to an underactive thyroid where the gland fails to produce sufficient thyroid hormone for normal functioning of the body. To encourage hair growth therefore an individual should seek medical advice for appropriate treatment.

Medications. Some medications may cause temporary hair loss. It is best to check the side effects prior to commencing the medication. It is also known that high doses of vitamin A may also cause hair shedding. This type of hair loss lessens when the individual discontinues taking the prescribed medication, for example, anticoagulants, medication used to treat gout, high blood pressure medication, too higher intake of Vitamin A and antidepressants.

Pregnancy. hormonal changes can be imbalanced during different stages of pregnancy and post natal women have been known to experience mild to severe hair loss approximately three months after delivery, possibly related to inadequate nutrition and return of hormonal levels prior to pregnancy.

Contraceptive pills. It has been reported that women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited tendency for hair thinning. If you have experienced this, you could consult with a pharmacist or medical doctor regarding medication that may prevent this.

Traction Alopecia. This is a form of alopecia that occurs when the hair is subjected interference with the hair follicle. This can be in the form of excessive or improper chemical application, excess heat from hair dryers/straighteners, continual braiding and tight ponytails. If the hair follicles are severely damaged the hair loss may be irreversible.

It is important to remember that correcting hair loss is a gradual process so it is important to persevere with hair loss treatment.

In the meantime, in relation to hair thinning causes if you require an instant solution to loss of hair you can always obtain a high quality wig or hair piece to give the illusion of natural hair.