Every day the enlarged womb constricts to regain its normal size. In about a week’s time it goes down and is not felt even by touching the lower abdomen, although it takes about 6 to 8 weeks to regain its normal position.

It is believed that if the mother feeds her child with her own milk, the womb regains its normal position rather early. Hence the mild pain caused by the constriction of the womb is a normal feature not warranting any special care.

After delivery the bleeding continues for about 40 days from the Vagina, which is also a normal process. Immediately after the delivery the discharge is red like blood, occasionally having pieces of the dead corpuscles. This red-blood-like discharge continues for 3 to 4 days. Then the colour, of the discharge changes to brown or light brown. In about 4 weeks or maximum 40 days this discharge ceases. Normally the feeding mothers have early stoppage of this discharge. If the vaginal discharge suddenly stops or starts giving a foul smell, then it could be because of infection and the doctor must be consulted immediately.

Years ago, doctors rarely saw cases of female baldness. But recently, young women have begun to notice a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost with each brushing and combing-more hair on the comb, more hair in the brush, more hair in the wash basin. And, after months or years, a realization that there has occurred visible thinning, a euphemism for baldness.

The healthy scalp loses between 50 and 120 hairs daily. This loss, let me reassure you, is balanced out by continuous regrowth. When the rate of hair loss, however, exceeds the rate of new growth, thinning and balding become apparent.

As a rule, there really is not an excessive amount of hair loss, rather there is an underproduction of new hair. This lack of production of new, viable hair can be due to a dozen different reasons.

Causes of Female Hair Loss

The major factors in what the dermatologist terms “female pattern baldness” are hormonal changes, heredity, and the aging process. Hormonal changes are those that occur after childbirth and with certain types of endocrine tumors and imbalances (thyroid trouble, ovarian problems, and other hormone condi­tions). In addition, if you are taking the low-dose birth control pill, you may be experiencing hair loss.

Hereditary factors also play a strong role in pattern baldness. If your mother or grandmother had sparse hair, it is likely that you (and possibly your daughter) may suffer from the same deficiency.

Finally, the aging process (due to diminished production of female hormones) is a strong factor in female hair loss. After producing for so many decades, the hair follicles become weak, tired, and sluggish. Some of them fade away and produce no more, one of the prices we must pay for growing old.

Other causes of thinning and balding in our modern women are due to environmental changes and the products used for beautification. Here are some examples:

* Mechanical tension and violence on the hair shaft due to new hair styles and cosmetic aids. These cause injury to the hair follicle and, when prolonged, interfere with the scalp’s circulation. Examples include unusual stretching, pulling, and teasing, brush rollers and curlers, tight, restrictive hair styles, vigorous combing and brushing, hot combs, braiding, and ponytails. Sharp-toothed nylon and metal combs and brushes also cause mechanical injury to the hair shaft and follicle.

* Excessive chemical exposure associated with hair styling (for example, cold-wave solutions, bleaches, and hair straighteners), and increased exposure to synthetic deter­gents and other additives in commercial shampoos, dyes, and hair sprays.

* Pollutants in our water supply (pesticides and insecticides), in our air (radioactive fallout and other forms of radiation), in sprays and other inhalants, in our food (dyes, additives, and various drugs and hormones given to cattle and poul­try), and increased exposure to chemicals of all sorts.

* Nutritional deficiencies, such as those seen in “crash diet­ers,” in vegetarians who may develop protein malnutrition, and in those suffering from iron-deficiency anemia.

* General anesthesia during surgical operations.

* Various drugs used to treat cancer, and anticoagulants  (blood thinners) used in heart disease.

* Excessive smoking (a more recent suspect).

* Emotional stress and tension, which are believed to impair the circulation of the hair follicle.

What’s a woman to do? Here are a few basic do’s and don’ts for healthy hair:

* Shampoo your hair regularly, daily if at all possible.

* If you comb and brush your hair, use only pure bristle brushes and hard rubber (Ace) combs. Don’t use the plastic or metal varieties.

* Reduce excessive mechanical manipulation of the hair shaft. Avoid teasing and ratting, vigorous combing and brushing, tight, restrictive hairstyles, tight braids and ponytails, and excessive hot-combing. Hair responds best to gentle care.

* Avoid excessive bleaching, dyeing, and hair straightening. . Keep up your general health, avoid crash diets, and cut down on smoking.

* If you are taking the low-dose birth control pill, ask your gynecologist if you may change these to the higher-dose variety.

* Avoid emotional stress and tension.

* Don’t be misled by those advertisements and commercials for potions and unguents that promise to grow hair. There ain’t no such animal.

* Finally, if your situation does not improve, see your derma­tologist. There may be some infection, some hormonal imbalance, or some medication that you have been taking that might be responsible.

And remember, women don’t get bald the way men do. While you may have to get used to a thinner crop when you are in your forties, it is highly unlikely that you will lose all of your “crowning glory.”

 A normal woman (that is, one who has no hormonal disease or disturbance) can conceal or remove excess hair in a number of ways: bleaching, shaving, plucking with tweezers, depilatory creams and lotions, waxes, abrasive applicators, and electrolysis. All have their drawbacks and all, except electrolysis, are tempo­rary measures.

Whether you will use any (or all) of the methods described below will depend upon the area (or areas) you intend to treat, your skin type, your tolerance to pain, your dexterity, your free time, and your pocketbook.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Bleaching

Bleaching with commercially-available products can conceal excessive, fine, fuzzy hair growth on the upper lip and forearms. It is most effective for small amounts of unwanted hair.

When done properly, bleaching is simple, safe, and painless. Repeated use of bleaching agents, however, can damage the hair shaft and cause temporary breakage. It can also irritate the skin. If you do use a bleach and develop a rash, try a different product.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Shaving

There is a popular myth that claims that if you shave or cut your hair, it will grow back faster, thicker, coarser, and darker. Don’t believe it. There is no scientific evidence to support this old wives’ tale. (If it were true, there would be very few bald men!)

The portion of hair emerging from the surface of the skin is nonliving, a dead protein thread. Cutting or shaving cannot influence the growing portion of your hair-the root-which occu­pies the hair follicle beneath the surface of the skin. Shaving is, however, a temporary measure and one must repeat it fairly often to avoid the stubbly feel and the “5 o’clock shadow” look.

If you shave with a safety razor, I recommend a clean, sharp, single-track blade. (Avoid using an old, ragged blade.) For a good shave, wet the hair thoroughly for at least two minutes with a lather shave cream which helps prevent evaporation. Do not shave too closely, as this practice can lead to ingrown hairs. And contrary to what you may have been taught, it is advisable to shave with the grain, not against it. This will also prevent ingrown hairs and subsequent infection.

If you use an electric shaver, try a preshave lotion which helps remove oil from the hair. You’ll find that shaving is easier, and you’ll be less likely to nick the skin.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Plucking (Tweezing)

Plucking out hairs with tweezers is a popular and effective, although somewhat painful, way to remove temporarily scattered hairs on” the face, chest, and eyebrows. Because of the discomfort and irritation, you should reserve this method for small areas of excess hair.

Plucking has no adverse side effects and, like other methods of temporary hair removal, will not cause the hairs to grow faster, coarser, or darker. Since the hair is removed at the root, it may grow back slower than hair that has been shaved off. Constant and repeated tweezing in the same area, however, can cause tiny, pitted scars.

When using the’ plucking method, make sure the skin and the tweezers are scrupulously clean to avoid infection. Also, do not pluck hairs from moles, warts, or other tumors. This can cause disagreeable and dangerous side effects: bleeding, infection, and change in the type of cell growth.

Hint: to minimize any pain, apply an ice cube to the area just before plucking.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Chemical Depilatories

Available in creams, liquids, and foams, these products weaken the chemical bonds of the hairs, causing them to break off or dissolve just below the surface of the skin. This is one of the best, easiest, and most popular methods for temporary removal of unwanted hair on the arms, legs, and underarm areas.

One word of caution: do not use these products on broken or abraded skin. It is also wise not to use them on very delicate areas, such as along the “bikini line” of the thighs or on the skin of the breasts.

The first time you use a chemical depilatory, try it on a “test” area first to make sure your skin isn’t unusually sensitive to it. Then wash and thoroughly dry the area to be depilated. Apply the chemical and leave it on for a specific length of time, usually ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the directions given by the manu­facturer. (If you leave it on longer than recommended, it can severely irritate your skin.) Then rinse the area thoroughly with clear, lukewarm water, using a washcloth if necessary, and pat dry. You can then apply a soothing, emollient cream or lotion because the chemical may dry out your skin.

The main advantage of chemical depilatories is that they are painless. They also break off hairs below the surface of the skin, so that regrowth is relatively slow and the hairs grow back soft, not stubbly.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Waxing

One of the oldest and least popular methods of temporary hair removal is molten wax. Hot, melted wax is poured onto the skin, left to cool and solidify, and then rapidly stripped off. The hairs which are embedded in the wax are plucked out as the wax is removed.           .

This type of hair removal is longer lasting than some of the other methods described. It takes about four to six weeks for waxed hair to grow back. However, there is always some degree of pain and skin irritation. Also, you cannot repeat this type of treatment until the hairs have grown out and are long enough to become embedded in the wax.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Abrasives

Pumice stones have been used for centuries to “wear off” excess hair. Although simple and inexpensive, this method of hair removal is rather tedious and uncomfortable and, therefore, not suitable for large areas.

Excessive Body Hair Removal Methods – Electrolysis

There is only one safe way to remove excess hair permanently: destroying the hair root with an electric current. This is called electrolysis.

Performed by a physician or trained electrologist, electrolysis consists of inserting a fine platinum or steel wire needle into the opening of the hair follicle. An electric current, transmitted down the needle, permanently destroys the hair root. The loosened hairs are then removed with tweezers. Once you destroy the root, the hair can no longer grow back.

While several types of electric current may be used, the basic procedure is the same. The results will depend upon the skill of the operator. Even in the most competent hands, however, electrolysis is a long, expensive, and tedious process. It is also somewhat painful, particularly on areas other than the face.

Electrolysis is most effective for the coarse, darker hairs, not the fine, “peach-fuzz,” lanugo-type hairs. It has no effect on the cause of excessive hair growth; all it can do is destroy the existing hair.

Electrolysis is not one hundred percent effective, and repeated treatments are often necessary to destroy successfully all the unwanted hairs. There are several reasons for this. Some hair follicles are bent or crooked. The electrical current for the partic­ular follicle may be insufficient (the higher the current, the greater the pain; therefore, the operator tries to “get away” with the smallest current that might do the job). Also, since the electrologist works below the surface of the skin, the insertion of the needle into the hair follicle is essentially a blind procedure and cannot be performed with absolute certainty. Another common occurrence is that the hair will come out, but the papilla (the hair root) will not be destroyed, resulting in the regrowth of that particular hair. Thus, depending upon the skill of the operator and the nature of the hair being treated, a single strand may have to be treated several times before it stops growing.

Coarse hairs may return three or four times, but these become finer at each regrowth, and eventually the root is so effectively destroyed that the hairs can no longer grow.

“Sittings” with the electrologist should be no longer than half an hour, during which time only a limited number of hairs (about fifty) should be removed. To avoid excessive irritation, those hairs lying close together should not be dealt with at the same time. Also, the skin and needles must be adequately sterilizep to prevent infection.

In the hands of a competent, well-trained, and conscientious electrologist, the dangers and side effects are minimal. Occasion­ally, scarring and fine pits will develop in places formerly occupied by hairs. (One sees this more commonly on the upper lip; therefore it is best to avoid treatment on this area.) In addition, excessive pigmentation may develop, but this is rare and usually quickly disappears. Since it is impossible to predict the nature of scarring or healing in any given patient, the electrologist should try a small trial area first and check the results.

It is not recommend the small, battery-operated, do-it-your­self kits. It is virtually impossible for a person to insert a tiny needle into a hair follicle on his or her face while looking in a mirror! And when improperly used, these self-treatments can lead to irreparable scarring.

If you are contemplating electrolysis, don’t expect too much. The average patient quickly tires of the experience and the cost. Because only a small percentage of hairs can be removed at one sitting, and because some regrowth of hair, even in the most skilled hands, will always recur after electrolysis, it requires firm dedica­tion on the part of you and the operator. A severe case of excess hair (hirsutism) may require years of treatment. But despite its limitations, in selected patients electrolysis is useful and success­ful.

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What Should You Know About Excessive Body Hair In Women?

Exactly what do we mean by excess hair? Not what most people believe. Excess hair does not mean an increase in the number of hairs. Everyone is born with a fixed number of hairs on his or her body. This is genetically determined (inherited).

Hair grows on every portion of the skin except the palms and soles and a few other small areas.

While excess hair may be due to many factors, for some groups of people it is the normal state of affairs. People from Southern Europe and Middle-Eastern cultures are much hairier than those from Northern Europe and Scandinavian countries; white people are hairier than black people; and Asians and American Indians are the least hairy of all.

Above and beyond this normal, constitutional hairy excess, there are those women who exhibit a far greater increase in the length and thickness of hair in certain areas which are usually reserved for the “peach-fuzz” variety: the upper lip, the chin, the sides of the face, the areas around the nipples, and the portion of the abdomen extending from the pubic region to the belly-button. (These are the areas normally associated with the male pattern hair growth.) This type of superfluous hair, or hypertrichosis, can be especially embarrassing to the young and otherwise confident woman, one of those “thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.”

The Causes Of Excessive Body Hair

The causes of excess hair are many-and varied. For those with a moderate degree of hairiness, the factors involved may be merely a part of normal growth and development.

The most common cause of excess hair growth in females is the aging process. Along about the time of menopause, women become deficient in the production of the female hormone estro­gen. The decrease of this hormone gives rise to a relative increase in the male-type hormone (androgen), which is responsible for the slow, relentless proliferation of thick, dark hairs appearing on the upper lip, chin, and cheeks. And, at the same time, the beginning of the steady thinning of the scalp hair. These two processes seem to go hand in hand: more hair on the body, less on the scalp.

Stress and tension can also playa role in excess hair growth. The hair follicles are under the influence of various hormones and chemicals produced by the body. Emotional stress and tension often lead to a disturbance in the delicate balance of these hormones which, in turn, can result in a stimulation of the hair follicle leading to excess hair, not, however, on the head. These hormonal imbalances also can arise in connection with tumors and cysts of the ovaries, diseases of the adrenal glands, and abnormal functioning and tumors of other hormone-secreting glands, such as the thyroid or pituitary.

In addition, various drugs and medications can occasionally produce hypertrichosis when taken over a period of time. These include drugs for epilepsy (Dilantin), cortisone-like drugs, and a host of others.

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How to Remove Excessive Body Hair in Women?