There are many different reasons why women may experience hair loss. Both men and women tend to lose hair as they increase in age, but we see certain conditions which may propagate more hair loss such as menopause.

In menopause, women will lose their hair because their bodies are going through a hormonal change. This is the reason why they will no longer menstruate. Their production of the hormone estrogen is decreasing. This is a hormone which initiates many of the female functions throughout her life, and once menopause occurs, androgens (or male hormones) dominate.

Estrogen has an affect on many tissues within the body. It's depletion causes skin to atrophy, and it can increase the likelihood of bone loss. In certain situations, replacing estrogen may be needed.

Hair loss in women causes a female pattern baldness different from men. Women lose hair throughout their scalp where there may not be distinct areas of hair loss like in men. There are several reasons a woman could lose hair such as thyroid disease or syphilis. These are only to name a few. If menopause is the cause of hair loss, it typically regrows within two years or even in six months.

Certain situations may arise where seeking your physicians advice may be warranted. These may include if there is an unusual pattern to the hair loss. Remember, hair loss due to menopause is evenly dispersed, and not in patches. If hair loss is occurring at an early age, this may be more concerning. Is there any itching or scaliness of the scalp? Is the hair loss painful? Is there a male pattern baldness? Is the hair loss associated with fatigue, weakness, or cold intolerance? These are important questions that should be noted.

If the hair loss is concerning then a doctor should be seen. If someone complains of pain with hair loss or itching and redness, then some other underlying cause might be treated to resolve the issue of hair loss. If the patient has an unusual pattern of hair loss, or if the patient notices weakness, fatigue, cold intolerance, and brittle nails then the hair loss is most likely associated with these symptoms. This is why it is important to note correlations.

The physician may want to know other information like if any medications are being used. Does the patient use any different shampoos? Identifying the right cause will lead to the correct treatment.

Other questions that might be asked are whether the patient takes any medications which may cause the hair loss. Is the patient under any unusual stress, or what types of shampoos do they use? There are many reasons to lose hair, and to find the right cause will lead to the correct treatment.

Hair loss for men and especially women can be a cause for concern for them making them self-conscious. In menopause, it is a temporary problem because it usually returns, at the most, within two years. Some products now advertise their success in treating female baldness to alleviate their discomfort with hair loss.