Stress to Stay Thin Leaves 1 in 3 Women with Hair Loss

How long has it been since you last saw an image of a slim or skinny female celebrity? Hours, minutes? It’s probably not been that long. The internet, television, films, newspapers and magazines are all full of photogenic women from the worlds of music, film, fashion, sport and television. And while most, if not all, of these women have personal trainers and invest many hours into their daily body maintenance, it does not stop women the world over feeling less than adequate when bombarded with these images on a regular basis.

And now new research has revealed the pressure for women to stay thin is leaving 1 in 3 suffering from hair loss. In the pursuit of skinniness, women are increasingly following restrictive diets which rob the body of essential nutrients which in turn causes excessive hair loss, leading to an all-over thinning. An article in today's Daily Mail revealed figures from new research which showed that 37% of women have experienced hair loss to some degree and that 4.8 million British women have severe thinning.

The poll questioned 3000 women aged 25 and over, nearly all of whom said they would be ashamed to admit that they suffered from hair loss. A third of women said losing hair made them feel depressed and 25% said that their personal lives had been affected. Unfortunately, these knock-on effects can increase stress levels which can further exacerbate the shedding.

Trichologist Sara Allison told the Daily Mail, "We are all leading more emotionally stressful lives and are more nutritionally deficient than previous generations. The pressure on women to stay thin often means that they simply don't eat enough to get all the nutrients or they are not eating the right foods. Hair is essentially the least important tissue of your body; therefore, your hair only receives nutrients if there are any remaining in the body after your vital organs have taken what they need."

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, a psychologist, told the Daily Mail, "In Western culture, hair is bound up in notions of femininity, youth and sexual attractiveness. Because a woman's hair plays a big part in value judgments made about youth and attractiveness, the experience of thinning hair is bound to be anxiety provoking."

In some cases, the hair loss will be temporary and re-grows. Telogen Effluvium, caused by a 'shock to the system' such as rapid weight loss, childbirth, an illness, taking certain medications or stress, leads to certain hair follicles prematurely entering the resting phase. After three months these hairs are shed, so that the hair loss can occur after a person has ‘recovered’ from the event. However in some individuals the situation can be on-going and it would be wise to see a hair loss expert who can advise on treatments. A particuarly stressful episode may even trigger the early onset of Female Pattern (genetic) Hair Loss. Although this is a permanent condition, it can be successfully managed using a hair loss treatment programme suited to the individual.

Diffuse Thinning is another type of hair loss often seen in women and occurs as a result of internal factors other than genetics. Common causes include anaemia, thyroid problems and hormone problems. Again, stress can play a contributing role. It is essential to see a doctor and find a way to manage the underlying condition in order for a hair loss treatment to have an effect.



The Belgravia Centre has experience in treating all of the above conditions. For women, the centre bases most of its treatment programmes around Minoxidil, the only product proven to be effective in tackling female hair loss. Belgravia's in-house registered pharmacy prepares three types of Minoxidil with added hair growth boosters. The unique treatments have helped thousands of women. To see the results these women have achieved, take a look at the range of before/during hair loss photos. Or watch one woman's video diary of hair loss treatment for Female Pattern Hair Loss.

If you would like to discuss hair loss treatment, contact Belgravia for a consultation. A specialist will diagnose the type of hair loss you have and advise you on the best method of treatment. To book an appointment, just call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. If you are unable to visit the London-based clinic, simply submit the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will contact you at your convenience.

More Information
Telogen Effluvium
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Diffuse Thinning
Alopecia Areata

Treatment Success Stories
Female Pattern Hair Loss: "It's changed my life"
Female Pattern Hair Loss: "I can't believe the results"
Diffuse Thinning: "I've had great success, all of my hairline has regrown"
Diffuse Thinning & FPHL: "I've noticed a great improvement"
Alopecia Areata: "My hair has grown 90% in 6 months"
Alopecia Areata: "Dramatic improvement"
Alopecia Areata: "My (bald) patches are almost gone"

Interesting Articles
Women's Lifestyles Leading to Hair Loss at a Younger Age
Psychological Impacts of Hair Loss in Women
Foods for Healthy Hair