Divorce Linked To Hair Loss In Women

By Margarita Nahapetyan

Women who had lost a spouse through divorce or death are much more likely to suffer from hair loss than women who are happily married or single, a new study has found.

According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, marital break-up, high levels of stress, smoking, and heavy drinking lead to increased hair loss in women. The conclusions are based on the two brand new studies that involved identical twins, both male and female. The authors noted that examining identical twins was important because each of them carries the same genes as the other one, which rules out genetic differences as a main reason for hair loss.

In one experiment, scientists analyzed eighty-four female identical twins and asked them to fill out questionnaires describing their lifestyle. Hormone blood level of all the women was also tested, and an extensive photo analysis of their hair was done. The results revealed that the strongest predictor of women's hair loss was their marital status.

Those ladies who were divorced or widowed showed more hair loss when compared to their married counterparts. It was also revealed that heavy drinking on a weekly basis was associated with higher levels of hair loss along the front of the head. However, women who consumed alcohol in moderation - two drinks per week - had lower risk of losing hair across temples.

In addition, a history of skin disease was found to be associated with thinner hair. Hair loss on top of the heads in women was linked to having diabetes and suffering from some form of skin conditions. Meanwhile, if women carried some extra pounds they were at a lower risk of losing their hair on top of the head. Coffee lovers, those who used sun protection and lived in a happy matrimonial unit had a reduced overall risk of any hair loss.

As to the second study, here 66 male identical twins were analyzed for the possible causes of hair loss. Researchers found that stress did not affect men to the same extent as women and that genetics was the strongest predictor of male thinning hair along the front of the head. However, smoking, heavy drinking, exposure to sun rays and a history of dandruff were found to be great contributing factors for male hair loss. Also, men who did not work out on a regular basis, had high blood pressure and elevated testosterone levels were at a higher risk of losing hair from the top of the head.

Study's principal investigator, Dr. Bahman Guyuron, chairman of the plastic surgery department at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, thinks that the connection between hair loss and a woman's marital status is how the status affects her state of mind. Dr. Guyuron speculates that stress, being the aspect of a troubling divorce, appears to result in hair loss among women and that other stressful factors, such as taking care of kids, for example, could affect their hairline in the same way.

So what could be possibly done to avoid or minimize hair loss? Doctors have some advice: to wear a hat and sunscreen while being out, consume coffee in moderation, limit the number of sleep hours each day, quit smoking and "stabilize your marriage." As to men, those who will now rush to work out outside must be careful not to exercise in the sun, as they could face a higher risk of thinning hair.