It is possible to prevent certain types of hair loss in women. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in hairstyle and lifestyle. There are also forms of alopecia which are not avoidable and curable. Fortunately, however, there are treatments which can prevent these conditions from progressing rapidly.
What Are the Preventable Types of Hair Loss in Women?
Traction alopecia is a classic example of a preventable type of hair loss in women. This condition is mainly due to hairstyles that cause undue pressure on the hair strands, pulling them off their roots. These includes buns, braids, chignons and tight ponytails. It can also be because of having very long tresses. Extremely long hair can be very heavy, applying enormous pulling force on the hair shafts. Eventually, the affected hair strands fall off the scalp.
This type of hair loss often causes broken hairs and bald spots. The affected areas are usually found along the hairline or the front and sides of the scalp. Other spots on the scalp may also be affected depending on the hairstyle you constantly sport. While this condition is reversible, it may still cause long-term damage and result in permanent hair loss if it is not addressed immediately.
Ensuring that you won’t suffer from hair loss due to traction alopecia is easy. You just have to avoid sporting tight hairstyles all the time. If you need to tie your hair, opt for a style that won’t pull out the strands from the scalp. Meanwhile, if you have very long tresses, consider getting a shorter hairdo.
Hair loss due to nutritional deficiency is also highly preventable. Much like other body parts, hairs require certain nutrients for them to stay healthy. For example, protein, the major component of hairs, plays an integral role in hair growth. When not enough protein is consumed, hair growth may become restricted and the strands can become weak and brittle. This is one of the reasons why incidence of hair loss is high amongst people with low-protein diets like vegans.
Similarly, iron deficiency can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause hair loss. Low levels of iron can affect the nutrient-rich blood supply to the scalp. Hair follicles and roots rely on this supply to stay in tiptop condition. Hence, when this gets disrupted, the overall health of the follicles and roots can be in jeopardy.
Having a balanced or nutrient-rich diet is the best way to avoid this type of hair loss condition. If you have diet restrictions, look for suitable substitutes to ensure that you still meet the recommended daily intake for protein, iron and other nutrients or minerals. You can also opt to take supplements, but make sure you consult your doctor first before doing so. Lastly, avoid doing crash diets as they can send your hair in the telogen phase prematurely. This weight loss strategy can deprive your hair of essential nutrients. Remember, when there’s limited nutrients entering your body, they go first to vital organs or body parts. Your hair, although valuable to your self-esteem, is not crucial to your survival. Hence, sending nutrients to it is not a priority when supply is scarce.
Simply put, if you wish to avoid certain types of hair loss conditions, you need to observe proper hair styling practices. Moreover, you need to have a healthy diet, one that is rich in nutrients essential in keeping hair healthy. These things are also the keys to preventing the early onset of age-related or hereditary alopecia like female pattern hair loss.
To learn more about how to prevent hair loss in women, call us at +353 (0)1 6793618 and schedule an appointment with our experienced trichologist.
—
Image by Claudio Terribile from Pixabay
