The New York Times has run a story claiming that the Republican ex-vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s hair has started thinning with the stress of the past year. They quoted her hairdresser Jessica Steele as saying that Ms. Palin needed emergency help to cover up the loss, after a spate of political setbacks “just broke her heart.”
Hair loss in women is still seen as a rather taboo subject, though it is increasingly common. Like men, women often find that their hair loss can be triggered by stress.
Looking at Sarah Palin, the shock could be any number of stressful events in her life, from an investigation into her taxes, allegations that she abused her position to get her brother-in-law fired and a public feud with the American TV host David Letterman after he make a joke about her daughter. This has all been topped off by her resignation as the Governor of Alaska, a move some say is part of a run-up to a shot at the White House.
The stress-related hair loss syndrome is known as telogen effluvium and describes when hairs in their growing phase are pushed suddenly into their resting phase by a shock to the system. The resting phase then prompts them to fall out.
There are some specific options for women than can halt the hair loss, such as the version of the topical gel Regaine which has been developed especially for females. Unfortunately, the prescription-only medicine Propecia only cures male-pattern baldness, and cannot be taken by women. Some women are opting for the more extreme – and expensive – option of hair transplants.