An article from Rebecca J. Hulem, RN, RNP, Certified Menopause Clinician

"PULLING YOUR HAIR OUT" MAY NOT BE JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH!

"The journey in between what we once were and who we are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place."
~Barbara De Angelis, Inspiration About Love

If you are like most women, there is more than enough to do, especially around the holiday season. In fact, you may be at the point where you are "pulling your hair out" trying to attend to all the last minute details. You swore this year was going to be different. You would be more organized, start shopping earlier and stick to your budget.

As you dash out the door to get "just one more thing", you take a quick look in the mirror and realize that "pulling your hair out" is not just a figure of speech. The hair on your head appears to be thinning all on its own. Before you reach for a hat, let’s explore some of the reasons for hair loss in women.

Male pattern baldness doesn't just happen to men - it's called Alopecia and is caused by heredity. Heredity can affect women as well. If your grandmother had thinning hair as she aged, and you are over forty experiencing the same phenomenon, genes just may be the culprit. Studies show that 40% of all women over the age of forty will experience some hair thinning.

Other contributing factors to hair loss in women are:

• Declining hormones, more specifically estrogen and testosterone
• Stress
• Vitamin deficiency caused by poor diet
• Thyroid disease
• Medications; anti-thyroid, anticonvulsants, diuretics, birth control pills, and ibuprofen

So, what can you do?

• Check your stress level. Have you recently experienced a divorce, major geographical move or job change?
• Practice good hair care basics: comb rather than brush your hair, take a vacation from perms, straightening, bleaching or coloring.
• Try a hairstyle that layers your hair. This will make it appear thicker.
• Always consult a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss if you feel your situation has occurred suddenly or your hair is coming out in large sections.

For a more in-depth discussion of hair loss and menopause, order Rebecca's special report, "Help! I'm Losing My Hair" available at The Menopause Expert.

Rebecca J. Hulem has 28 years experience in the medical community and is the author of Feelin' Hot and contributing author to two additional books. To sign up for her free menopause newsletter or for further information, please visit TheMenopauseExpert .