Hair thinning? Get to the root of the problem

Hair loss in women can be triggered by multiple causes, and some are treatable.

You look in the mirror and you notice it: your part looks wider than before, and there seems to be more scalp peeking through the strands of hair. While hair loss is often thought of as a man's problem, at least a third of women will experience thinning hair at some point in their lives.

"There are many different causes of hair loss in women. Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss," says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald. In many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When it's not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.