(@thatbaldchic)

Is There A Connection Between Hair Loss And Hormones?

It is not uncommon for a majority of women to start losing hair after reaching puberty or menopause, giving birth or experiencing other hormone problems. While you can lose 50-100 hairs per day normally, fluctuations in the hormone levels can cause severe hair loss and may lead to baldness. However, these problems can be remedied by addressing the underlying hormonal problem. The most common hormone-imbalance conditions that cause hair loss in females and their treatment options are as follows;

Hyper – Oestrogen

Two primary hormones that play a critical role in preparing the uterus for a fetus implant are progesterone and estrogen. Overproduction of these hormones, especially that of estrogen can trigger excessive hair shedding that further leads to hair loss. This condition is called hyper-estrogen or estrogen dominance and it affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Higher levels of testosterone in a woman can cause also cause hair loss. It usually happens in PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition in which ovaries start producing excess male sex hormones due to cyst formation. Such females will usually experience male-patterned baldness. Although it's not very common in females as they have naturally higher levels of estrogen, which counters its effect.

Overactive Thyroid

Overactive thyroid leads to the production and secretion of thyroid hormones. Excess thyroid hormone in the circulation triggers a condition called “Telogen Effluvium”. It is characterized by certain changes in the hair growth cycle that leads to thinning or shedding of hair.

Menopause

In women, estrogen plays a major role in preventing hair fall and hair loss during menstrual years. Its levels drop sharply after the menopause which can lead to post-menopausal thinning and loss of hair in some women. These women are also at risk of patchy hair loss and even pattern baldness.

Fibroids

Do fibroids cause hair loss? A study found that higher uterine fibroids can be a greater risk for hair loss in black women. This condition is called central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). It is due to the fact that fibroids cause dysregulation of the female androgen hormones that further causes thinning of the hair and hair loss. 

Conclusion

Regardless of the cause, you should discuss your condition with a doctor or a certified dermatologist.  A healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, and supplements), stress management, ample exercise, and medication are some of the effective ways to reduce hair loss secondary to hormonal issues. Doing so will decrease your risk of hormonal imbalances, prevent you from certain hormone disorders as well as help protect your hair health. Although certain home remedies like massaging your hair with essential oils (jojoba, rosemary, thyme, cedarwood, and lavender) can’t help maintain the optimal levels of hormone; however, they regulate normal hair growth cycle and speed up the recovery.