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5 Salient Causes of Hair Loss in Women You Should Worry About

If you thought that hair loss was a condition that affected only men, think again! According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hair loss in women is an equally worrying condition. Close to 40% of women experience major hair loss as they near the age of 40.

Associate professor of dermatology and program director of dermatology residency at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., Mary Gail Mercurio, MD, FAAD reveals, “In the past, many women experiencing hair loss would suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn for help and trying their best to hide the problem. But now, I see more and more women in my practice seeking treatment for hair loss and actively addressing this condition. That’s encouraging, as the sooner hair loss is diagnosed, the better our chances of successfully treating it.”

Hair Loss in Women is Different as Compared to Men

Hair loss in women manifests itself differently than in men. The most common symptoms among men are a balding pate and receding hairline. Women, on the other hand, may notice symptoms like a widening parting and thinning all over the scalp. You may also notice that the hair strands are thinner than before and have a drier, limp texture without the bounce. If you start to notice hair loss of more than 80 strands a day with the hair growing back much slower or not at all, it might be time to seek help.

Let’s take a closer look at the main causes of hair loss you could have and how to fix the problem.

1. Female Genetic Alopecia

Like men, women may also be genetically prone to having hair loss. A good move is to check with the female members of your family for the patterns of hair loss they’re experiencing. You might just find that your condition is similar to theirs. Remember, close to 30 million American women may have hair loss because of faulty genes. A good solution is to try Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. A natural treatment that uses your blood to create a serum, the therapy can rejuvenate dormant hair follicles and stimulate them to begin producing hair again.

Like the expert consultants at PRP Injection MD reveal, the serum contains a concentration of growth factors and platelets that revive the dying follicles and also nourish them. You may need 4 to 6 sessions spaced at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks depending on the severity of your hair loss. Within 4 weeks after the initial treatment, you’re likely to notice new hair growth all over the scalp.

2. Medical Conditions and Ailments

Check out this article on WebMD that talks about how your hair is a vital indication of your overall health and wellness. If you’ve been losing hair quickly, you may want to check with your medical practitioner for underlying health problems like, say, thyroid imbalances. Skin infections and conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis in the scalp can also trigger hair loss in women. Your doctor will likely run a blood test to check for thyroid imbalances or direct you to get treatment from an expert dermatologist. Once your health issues are resolved and the infections cured, you might just notice that your hair growth is restored.

3. Reproductive Health Issues

Problems with your reproductive system can also result in hair loss. If you’ve been having irregular or extended menstrual cycles, that could be an indication of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Your gynecologist may recommend that you get diagnostic tests like pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and blood tests to identify the problem. Although there are no cures for the condition, your doctor may help you manage the symptoms that can include hair loss.

If you’re nearing the age of 50, waning hormone levels like estrogen and progesterone can also cause hair loss in women. To help restore the balance, you could consider opting for natural solutions like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Taking supplements can replace the lowered levels of hormones and perhaps, resolve the hair loss issue. Of course, you could always consider getting PRP therapy to help you.

4. Dietary Deficiencies

Read this feature on HealthLine and you will learn that an inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals can cause hair loss in women. If you have been dieting to lose weight, you might find that you’re losing hair along with the excess inches. While being obese or overweight is not good for your health, you may want to design the weight loss by including a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise. Check with your medical practitioner and get a blood test to identify deficiencies like iron, zinc, vitamin D, and biotin or vitamin B7 as it is also called.

Replace the shortfall of vitamins with foods that are rich in these minerals. Like, for instance, eggs, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and whole grains that will nourish your body (and, hair) without interfering with your weight loss efforts. You could also ask your doctor for supplements that can replace the deficiency quickly.

5. Chemical Hair Products and Overstyling

Using chemical hair products like gels, sprays, hair color, and any others can weaken the hair shaft and cause breakage. Celia Shatzman warns in this feature on Forbes that these products can seep into the scalp and weaken the hair follicles also. If you regularly style your hair into cornrows or use straightening and curling irons and blow dryers, you could end up damaging the hair. Further, over brushing, tugging, and rubbing wet hair aggressively can cause it to fall out. Avoid the use of chemical products and opt instead for organic and natural cleansing and setting agents. Consider applying hair masks to nourish the strands and follicles for healthier growth.

Aside from these 5 major factors, stress, anxiety, environmental pollution, and excessive sun exposure can cause hair loss in women. A good solution is to check with your trichologist for the specific reason why you’re losing your tresses and take the necessary steps to correct the problem.

5 Challenges Women Face in their Quest for Professional Success

Read the news today and you will learn about how women are making their mark in sports, commercial, management, or any other professional arena. Despite their impressive accomplishments, the Pew Research Center reports that women made up only 46.8% of the labor force in the year 2017. Further, the organization projects that only up to 47.1% of women may continue to contribute to the American economy in 2025.

However, the most interesting statistic is that just 6.4% of women acted as CEOs in Fortune 500 companies in the year 2017. If close to half the workforce in the country is female, why is it that just a small percentage makes it to the esteemed echelons of the management of top-ranking companies? What stands in their quest for professional success?

The fact remains that women deal with far more challenges in their careers. And overcoming those pitfalls to break the glass ceiling is much harder for them. Here’s a quick look at the most significant issues they deal with, and what they can do to overcome them.

1. Women’s Health Starts to Falter at the Age of 35

By the time, students graduate from school and college with the required qualifications to get good jobs, they have already reached the age of 30 or more. For women, this is also the age when some of the hormones in their bodies like estrogen and progesterone start to decline. Having worked for 5 to 7 years and ready to earn promotions and rewards for their hard work, many women start to sense health issues as they reach 35.

Should you talk to the medical experts at the Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, you will learn that waning hormone levels have various health effects that can get in the way of their achieving professional success. Some of the main symptoms include fatigue, weakening bones, loss of muscle mass, and stress and anxiety. Perhaps, the most worrying symptom is mental confusion and inefficient memory. At the peak of their careers when women need their bodies to be in top working condition, they often find that keeping pace with the demands of the job is becoming very difficult.

Thankfully, doctors now have a solution – bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. After assessing your hormone levels with a simple blood test, they’ll give you supplements derived from plants that have absolutely no side effects. These supplements will restore the waning levels so you feel healthy and energetic and ready to attain professional success.

2. Women Must Keep Up with Family Obligations

Worldwide statistics gathered by Fast Company reveal that despite more men willing to stay home to care for the kids in the family, most of the burden of childcare and managing the needs of the elderly members of the family falls on the women. Chances are that you find your day crammed with household responsibilities and the need to create a healthy balance between professional success, a career, and the needs of your children and parents.

The answer is simple! Be willing to ask for help, and share your responsibilities with friends and other members of the family. Pool shopping and other chores with friends, taking turns to manage non-work related tasks. And, above all, recognize that it is impossible to excel at everything you take on. Laundry done more infrequently is not a disaster, and meal delivery services are a convenient alternative to cooking at home.

3. Women Are Often Second-Guessing Themselves

Like this article in the Forbes magazine explains, one of the key requirements for attaining professional success is the need for confidence in you. Not only are women hesitant about speaking up and voicing their ideas and opinions, but they often doubt their capabilities even though they may be the best-qualified person in the boardroom. Many women also talk about how their ideas were dismissed or that they often found that their bosses overlooked them opting instead to promote male colleagues.

If you see similar situations arising at work, take charge of them by preparing better for each meeting. Be more confident about speaking up and raise your voice to make it heard. If needed, sign up with a professional coach who can help you realize your potential.

4. Women Don’t Get Paid as Much as Men

A hard fact of the professional world is that there is a definite disparity in the wages that men and women earn. Check out this article in the Chicago Tribune and you will read about how an average woman with the same educational qualifications will earn up to 30% less than her male counterpart working at a similar post. This 30% can translate into a shortfall of $700,000 in their lifetimes.

A good move is to be confident about what you think your work is worth. And, demand the compensation you know you deserve. Studies show that women don’t talk about their professional success because they fear that they may come across as arrogant and egotistic. But, when it comes to negotiating for better wages, go ahead and talk about what the company has gained because of your hard work.

5. Promotion Criteria for Men and Women Differ Significantly

When it comes to considering raises and promotions, there may be more factors at play than you expect. To earn and get higher salaries and the raises they deserve, women must hold on to their jobs for a longer while. Changing jobs seems to lower their chances significantly. Further, when bosses promote a male employee, it’s because they evaluate his future prospects and the asset he can become for the company. But, when it comes to promoting a woman, her boss is likely to consider her track record of professional success, capabilities, and merits.

To get the promotions you deserve, don’t be modest about what you’ve accomplished. And, don’t be afraid to talk about what more you can do for the company, the ideas you have, and the projects you’ve got lined up.

Attaining professional success is a challenge for women. But, with the right moves, it might just be possible for you to get the recognition you deserve. Work hard and continue to strive to be better than your male colleagues. Success can’t be that far behind!

Be An Exciting Boss And Use Customised Stationery

There are a lot of ways for you to surprise your employees as their boss. One of the best ways to make it a reality is by using personalised correspondence cards. They won’t expect you to use this type of paper. In most instances, they only hope you send them an email. You don’t even use the best tone when sending the email. You are either in a hurry or seem to scream at them because of a problem.

However, if you start using personalised paper, you can make your letters personal. You can also send the message directly to the employee. Receiving a letter still feels different from receiving an email. The approach is more personal as opposed to an email which is only professional.

Besides, you want them to feel like you want a friendly conversation. There are different ways in which you can use personalised paper to look cool as a boss.

Express gratitude

There are many ways for you to express your appreciation for employees who did a great job. You can treat them to a nice dinner. You can give them a salary increase. Nothing beats a personal congratulatory note though. The letter is something that they will remember forever. They will feel like you thought that they did a fantastic job. It will motivate them to do better in the future.

Say sorry

There are also instances when you can’t control your emotions because of the situation. You end up shouting at someone even if you did not intend to. If you want to apologise personally apologise, but if you don’t think the other party is prepared to accept your apology, you can start by writing a personalised card. The person will start feeling relaxed because of it, and you can soon have a more intimate conversation to hash things out.

Make appointments

There are other situations in which you have no time to announce a meeting. You also don’t want to make instant announcements in front of everybody especially if only a few people are there. The best method of doing it is by leaving a note on the desk of the employees attending the meeting. Write the time and location of the meeting so they will know where to go.

When you start using personalised paper to communicate with your employees, they will start feeling great about you. They will no longer think of you as someone who is separate from them. They will look at you as their colleague or even friend. You communicate on a personal level, so they will also respond personally. Even if you have disagreements professionally, you can settle things because of this particular interaction.

Besides, gone are the days when bosses thought too highly of themselves and were not interacting with employees. Time and again, this strategy does not work. Modern leaders make an effort to be closer to their employees and create a special bond to motivate them.