Originally published February 8 2006
Thinning hair and hair loss can be a sign of other health problems for women
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Sun-Sentinel.com covers the issue of hair loss in women, which, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, affects 30 million women in the U.S.
Three years ago, Ruth Caton began to notice more strands of her once-thick hair falling out in her brush.
By last year, her hair had thinned so much that her scalp was clearly visible at the top of her head.
After seeing several different doctors, the 63-year-old Gloucester woman finally got a diagnosis: her thyroid, a small gland in the neck that regulates metabolism, wasn't producing enough hormones.
To most people, the word "balding" immediately conjures up images of older men, along with plenty of jokes about receding hairlines and bad rugs.
But doctors say there's another group of people struggling with thinning hair who need serious attention: women.
Hair loss in women can be a symptom of a chronic illness, a side effect of medication or the result of hormonal shifts during aging.
Another group, the American Hair Loss Association, says women make up about 40 percent of all hair loss cases.
Compared to male pattern balding, thinning in women tends to strike faster and over more areas of the head.
Daly has treated girls as young as 15 or 16, and Coker sees as many 20- and 30-something patients as she does older women.
Certain vitamins, including zinc and calcium, can help, as can waterproof creams that color the scalp.
Some see good results with certain blood pressure and anti-ulcer drugs that, as side effects, block testosterone production or build-up in hair follicles.
Women can help keep their hair healthy by avoiding tight braids and ponytails, weaves and harsh chemical dyes and straighteners, Coker said.
Dermatologists or endocrinologists, doctors who specialize in skin and hormonal issues, are good people to seek out.
Her hair began growing back a couple of months later as her body returned to health.
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