For many women, hair loss is a tough thing. It doesn’t just have to do with how you look. It can influence your confidence as well. You’re not alone if you’re noticing thinning or shedding. The millions of women who suffer year after year from hair loss have to cope with it every year. Hormones are often the cause. Hormones govern hair growth. When they are out of balance they can change and can cause hair thinning or hair loss.
Hormonal Changes During Different Stages of Life
A woman’s hormone levels change throughout her lifetime. Big changes come with puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Estrogen increases during puberty and can make your hair thicker and healthier. Higher estrogen levels during pregnancy make hair look fuller. After childbirth, many women shed, and it’s scary. Estrogen levels begin to go down as women near menopause. That can lead to thinner hair. Another common reason for hair loss is hormones; testosterone becomes more noticeable, and that can cause more hair loss. This is a common problem, and understanding these changes helps you to manage them.
Androgenetic Alopecia in Women
Alopecia is female pattern baldness, and it is one of the top reasons why women lose their hair. This happens because of hormones, androgens specifically. All women have these male hormones, which shrink hair follicles. The hair will become progressively thinner and stop growing. Men lose their hairline, but women generally keep their hairline and may notice the crown becoming sparse.
Hair Loss, the Role of Thyroid Hormones
Your thyroid gland depends on your metabolism. When your thyroid hormones are out of balance, you are susceptible to having your hair affected. In underactive as well as overactive thyroid conditions, hair thinning is possible. Women with thyroid problems often see thinning hair over the scalp. They may also have tiredness or weight changes. The good news is that once your thyroid is treated, your hair growth often takes off.
How Stress and Cortisol Affect Hair Health
Another major cause of hair loss is stress. If cortisol levels are high, more hair can enter the shedding phase. However, hair will fall out beyond normal levels in a condition called telogen effluvium. Stress hair loss is usually temporary, yet it can still be emotionally draining. A good diet, relaxation, and exercise can help with hair health.
Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Double-Edged Sword
One form of HRT is usually utilized to assist women in combating symptoms associated with menopause. It may increase estrogen levels, which can help with hair thinning. But HRT doesn’t work in the same way for everyone. Sometimes, it even causes a person to lose their hair. HRT has different reactions in every woman’s body. It’s also a great way to restore balance and promote hair health. It will have some unwanted side effects, such as hair loss for a few individuals. Before starting HRT it’s important to talk with your doctor.
Hormonal Hair Loss Solutions
Hormone-induced hair loss can be managed in a few different ways. Minoxidil is a popular topical treatment. It can also help to stimulate hair regrowth in women with androgenetic alopecia. Eating a well-balanced diet that includes enough vitamins and minerals, such as zinc and biotin, helps improve hair. Some may opt for scalp micropigmentation for women, a non-invasive procedure that gives the appearance of fuller hair. By placing tiny pigments on the scalp, it makes the hair look fuller. Sometimes, doctors may recommend taking medications that can help balance hormones for thyroid conditions or PCOS.
The Connection Between Birth Control and Hair Loss
Besides preventing pregnancy, birth control pills can also affect the way your body makes and responds to hormones that affect hair growth. However, for those in cases of hair loss, birth control pills can help by lowering androgen levels. Not all birth control pills are, however. Progesterone only, and some contain estrogen and progesterone. Hair loss can be helped by or worsened with a pill based on the pill type and your body’s sensitivity. For some women, going off birth control or changing to a new birth control may cause ‘hormonal shifts’ that result in telogen effluvium, a phase of hair shedding.
Conclusion
Hair health is affected by hormonal changes. Hormones can cause hair loss from puberty to menopause. Knowing the signs and the causes can help you find the right treatments. Hormonal hair loss can be managed either by diet, stress management, or medical solutions.
