Movie star Jada Pinkett Smith recently revealed she, like 21 million American women, suffers with hair loss. And rather than shy away from the subject, the actor has tackled her alopecia head on.
While hair loss in women is caused by a range of different issues, Smith’s is believed to be a result of the autoimmune disease alopecia. The Matrix star has reported pulling handfuls of hair out in the shower and has been cutting her hair shorter and shorter to mask the problem for several years. She has also spoken candidly about the psychological impact of alopecia, and how she’s been wearing hats and headscarves to cover up the problem.
Smith’s story is giving solace to the millions of women in America with the condition. If you’re one of those people, it’s important to understand what’s going on.
The Facts About Alopecia
Alopecia is a generic term used to describe rapid hair loss. Around half of women over 50 suffer from some form of the problem. And while men can experience the problem too, the causes among women are usually very different.
Women usually experience menopause between the age of 45 and 55. This is when periods stop, and the production of sex hormones slows down considerably. Progesterone and estrogen levels drop dramatically, which disrupts the cycle of hair growth. At the same time, the male hormone androgen increases. These hormonal imbalances shrink follicles and shorten the hair-growth phase (anagen phase).
There is another type of alopecia, however. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that involves a person’s antibodies attacking their own follicles. However, this form of the condition only affects around two percent of the population — and can strike during childhood.
What Can You Do About Alopecia?
There are some reasonably effective treatments available for the hormonal alopecia that Jada Pinkett Smith suffers with — most of which involve the introduction of hormones that are lacking during and after menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reverse some of the effects of alopecia, but not always.
If you’re suffering with the condition, the first thing to do is ensure your lifestyle is a healthy one. Restrict your consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and eat foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as soy and flax seeds. Omega fatty acids, vitamin D and coconut oil are all effective at regulating hormone levels — so make sure they feature prominently in your diet.
Of course, Jada Pinkett Smith already had a healthy lifestyle. She decided to tackle her alopecia through hairstyle changes, hats and scarves. The most important thing you can do is speak to a hair loss specialist and decide on a plan of action that works for you.
At Genesis II, we encourage you to contact us and make an appointment to visit with one of our hair loss specialist who will work one-on-one with you to address all your hair concerns. Your consultation is free, call us today at (315) 458-1074 or to contact us via email click here.
Photo Credit: Matlachu Via Pixabay
Sources:
https://www.today.com/style/jada-pinkett-smith-opens-about-her-terrifying-hair-loss-t129549
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5763037/Explained-Jada-Pinkett-Smiths-hair-loss-strikes-20-million-women-menopause.html
