How does hormone replacement therapy affect hair growth during menopause. What causes hair loss in menopausal women. Can estrogen help with thinning hair. How do hormonal changes impact hair follicles. What are the benefits of HRT for menopausal hair loss.

Understanding Menopausal Hair Loss: Causes and Prevalence

Hair thinning during menopause is a common yet often overlooked symptom that can significantly impact a woman’s self-esteem and well-being. An estimated 21 million women in the United States will experience hair loss at some point in their lives, with many cases occurring during and after menopause. This widespread issue deserves attention, as it can be just as distressing as other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes.

Why does hair loss occur during menopause? The primary culprit is hormonal changes. As women transition through menopause, their bodies experience a natural decline in estrogen and progesterone levels. These hormones play crucial roles in maintaining hair growth and strength. When their levels drop, it can lead to noticeable changes in hair quality and quantity.

Types of Menopausal Hair Loss

• Overall thinning throughout the scalp
• Visible thinning when parting the hair
• Reduced ponytail thickness
• Thinning along the hairline (less common in women)

Is menopausal hair loss reversible? While it can be challenging to completely reverse hair loss, many women find that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help improve hair thickness and reduce further thinning. Understanding the hormonal mechanisms behind menopausal hair loss is key to appreciating how HRT may benefit hair health.

The Role of Estrogen and Progesterone in Hair Growth

Estrogen and progesterone are powerhouse hormones that influence numerous bodily functions, including hair growth. These hormones help keep hair in the growing (anagen) phase, which means hair stays on the head longer and may even grow faster. During menopause, as levels of these hormones decline, hair growth cycles can be disrupted.

How do estrogen and progesterone affect hair follicles? These hormones:

1. Promote hair follicle longevity
2. Extend the growth phase of hair
3. Support overall hair thickness and strength
4. Help maintain a healthy scalp environment

When estrogen and progesterone levels fall during menopause, hair may start to shed more quickly and grow more slowly. This is why many women notice improvements in hair thickness and quality when they begin estrogen replacement therapy as part of their HRT regimen.

Testosterone’s Impact on Menopausal Hair Loss

While estrogen and progesterone decline during menopause, testosterone levels can become relatively more dominant. This shift in hormonal balance can have significant implications for hair health. How does testosterone affect hair growth in menopausal women?

Testosterone, particularly in its converted form of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can shrink hair follicles. This process, known as miniaturization, results in finer, more brittle hair strands. Over time, this can lead to noticeable thinning and increased hair breakage.

The DHT Factor

DHT, a potent form of testosterone, is often considered the primary culprit in hormone-related hair loss. In some women, the declining levels of estrogen and progesterone during menopause can lead to a relative increase in DHT’s effects on hair follicles. This hormonal imbalance can accelerate hair thinning and loss.

Can hormone replacement therapy help counteract testosterone’s effects on hair? By restoring a more balanced hormonal environment, HRT may help mitigate the negative impacts of testosterone on hair follicles. This is one reason why some women report improvements in hair thickness and quality after starting HRT.

Stress and Menopausal Hair Loss: A Vicious Cycle

While hormonal changes are a primary factor in menopausal hair loss, stress can exacerbate the problem. Many women experience increased stress levels during menopause due to hormonal fluctuations, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms. This stress can, in turn, contribute to hair loss, creating a frustrating cycle.

How does stress affect hair growth? Chronic stress can push hair follicles into a dormant phase, leading to increased shedding and slower regrowth. This type of hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, can cause noticeable thinning across the scalp.

Common Stress Factors During Menopause

• Hormonal imbalances leading to anxiety and depression
• Sleep disruptions from night sweats and insomnia
• Physical discomfort from various menopausal symptoms
• Emotional challenges associated with this life transition

Can hormone replacement therapy help reduce stress-related hair loss? By addressing hormonal imbalances and alleviating other menopausal symptoms, HRT may indirectly help reduce stress levels. This, in turn, can create a more favorable environment for hair growth and retention.

The Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hair Health

Hormone replacement therapy, particularly estrogen replacement, can offer several potential benefits for menopausal women experiencing hair loss. How does HRT help improve hair growth and quality?

1. Restores hormonal balance: By supplementing declining estrogen and progesterone levels, HRT can help create a more favorable hormonal environment for hair growth.
2. Extends the anagen phase: Estrogen helps keep hair in the growing phase longer, potentially leading to thicker, fuller hair.
3. Counteracts testosterone’s effects: Balanced estrogen levels can help mitigate the hair-thinning effects of testosterone and DHT.
4. Improves overall scalp health: Hormonal balance supports a healthier scalp environment, which is crucial for optimal hair growth.
5. Reduces stress: By alleviating other menopausal symptoms, HRT can indirectly reduce stress levels, which may benefit hair health.

It’s important to note that while many women report improvements in hair thickness and quality with HRT, individual results can vary. Consulting with a healthcare provider is essential to determine if HRT is appropriate and to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Beyond Hormones: Comprehensive Approaches to Menopausal Hair Loss

While hormone replacement therapy can be beneficial for many women experiencing menopausal hair loss, a comprehensive approach often yields the best results. What other strategies can complement HRT in promoting hair health during menopause?

Nutritional Support

A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is crucial for healthy hair growth. Key nutrients include:

• Iron: Essential for hair follicle function
• Biotin: Supports keratin production
• Vitamin D: Helps create new hair follicles
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Promote scalp health

Scalp Care

Maintaining a healthy scalp environment can support optimal hair growth. This includes:

• Gentle cleansing with sulfate-free shampoos
• Regular scalp massages to promote blood flow
• Use of scalp treatments with ingredients like minoxidil or saw palmetto

Stress Management

Implementing stress-reduction techniques can complement the effects of HRT:

• Regular exercise
• Meditation and mindfulness practices
• Adequate sleep hygiene
• Counseling or support groups

By combining hormone replacement therapy with these additional strategies, many women find they can effectively manage menopausal hair loss and maintain healthier, fuller hair.

Personalized Treatment Plans: The Key to Success

When it comes to addressing menopausal hair loss, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Each woman’s experience with menopause is unique, and the same is true for hair loss patterns and responses to treatment. How can women ensure they’re getting the most effective care for their individual needs?

The answer lies in personalized treatment plans developed in collaboration with healthcare providers. These plans take into account various factors:

• Individual hormone levels
• Overall health status
• Specific hair loss patterns
• Lifestyle factors
• Personal preferences and concerns

By considering these elements, healthcare providers can tailor hormone replacement therapy and complementary treatments to each woman’s unique situation. This personalized approach often leads to better outcomes and higher satisfaction with treatment results.

The Importance of Regular Follow-ups

Effective management of menopausal hair loss requires ongoing attention and adjustment. Regular follow-up appointments with healthcare providers allow for:

• Monitoring of hormone levels and adjusting HRT dosages as needed
• Assessing the effectiveness of current treatments
• Addressing any new concerns or side effects
• Incorporating new treatment options as they become available

This ongoing care ensures that women receive the most up-to-date and effective treatments for their menopausal hair loss, maximizing the chances of maintaining healthy, vibrant hair throughout the menopausal transition and beyond.

Embracing a Holistic Approach to Menopausal Hair Health

While hormone replacement therapy can play a significant role in addressing menopausal hair loss, it’s essential to view hair health as part of overall well-being during this life transition. A holistic approach that considers physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors can lead to the best outcomes.

Physical Health

Beyond hormone balance, other aspects of physical health can impact hair growth:

• Thyroid function: Thyroid imbalances are common during menopause and can affect hair health
• Cardiovascular health: Good circulation is crucial for delivering nutrients to hair follicles
• Immune system function: Autoimmune conditions can sometimes contribute to hair loss

Emotional Well-being

The emotional impact of hair loss during menopause shouldn’t be underestimated. Addressing these concerns can involve:

• Counseling or therapy to cope with body image changes
• Support groups for women experiencing menopausal symptoms
• Self-care practices that boost confidence and self-esteem

Lifestyle Considerations

Certain lifestyle factors can significantly influence hair health during menopause:

• Sleep quality: Prioritizing good sleep hygiene to support overall health and hair growth
• Exercise: Regular physical activity to promote circulation and stress reduction
• Hair care practices: Avoiding harsh treatments and heat styling that can damage hair

By addressing these various aspects of health and well-being alongside hormone replacement therapy, women can take a comprehensive approach to managing menopausal hair loss. This holistic strategy not only supports hair health but also contributes to an improved quality of life during the menopausal transition.

As research in the field of menopausal health continues to evolve, new insights and treatment options may emerge. Staying informed and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers ensures that women can access the most current and effective strategies for managing hair loss and other menopausal symptoms.

Ultimately, while menopausal hair loss can be challenging, it’s important to remember that effective treatments are available. With the right combination of hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and personalized care, many women find they can maintain healthy, beautiful hair throughout menopause and beyond.

How Hormone Replacement Treatment Affects Your Hair

Most of us have heard about hot flashes and mood changes during menopause, but what about hair thinning? Many women experience hair loss during menopause, but hormone replacement treatment may be able to help. Thinning hair during menopause can seriously affect your sense of well-being and your self-esteem. However, you’re not alone with menopausal hair loss. An estimated 21 million women in the U. S. will experience hair loss at some point in their lives, many of them during and after menopause. Our providers can help you determine underlying causes of hair thinning during menopause and help you find personalized treatment plans to help you feel better.

Hormone replacement treatment can help improve your quality of life during menopause.

What Causes Hair Loss During Menopause? Why Could Hormone Replacement Treatment Help?

During menopause, you’re likely experiencing a lot of changes, from irregular periods to night sweats and mood changes. Thinning hair can also occur in post-menopause. Many women notice that hormone replacement treatment can help reduce hot flashes and may even help their hair. However, what is it about menopause that makes your hair more vulnerable? In many cases, it’s hormones.

Estrogen and Progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone are hormones in your body that perform a lot of functions. For example, they’re responsible for menstruation and can help keep your bones strong. These hormones also help with hair growth. Estrogen and progesterone can help keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Therefore, these hormones can help your hair stay on your head longer and may even help your hair grow faster. This may be why many women notice their hair thinning starts to improve with estrogen replacement therapy.

During menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels naturally start to decline. This is what causes your periods to become irregular and eventually stop. Low progesterone and estrogen are also often to blame for thinning hair during menopause. Hair loss from menopausal hormone deficiencies can take many forms. Most women notice thinning throughout their scalps, which may be visible when you part your hair or you might notice a thinner pony tail. You may also notice thinning along your hair line, but this is less common for women. Low levels of estrogen and progesterone means your hair may start to fall out sooner and grow more slowly. The goal of hormone replacement treatment during menopause is to help your body attain healthy, balanced hormone levels, which is why many women may notice changes in hair thinning once they start treatment.

Testosterone

Declining estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause can also lead to having higher than usual testosterone levels, as your hormones may become imbalanced. Generally, your body has more estrogen and progesterone than testosterone. Just like other hormones, your testosterone levels decline with age as well. However, in some cases, your estrogen and progesterone levels may decline so quickly that your testosterone may become more dominant in your body. Even if your testosterone levels are the same or within healthy ranges, without estrogen and progesterone to keep testosterone in check, you may experience changes related to this imbalance, including thinning, fragile hair.

Testosterone can also affect your hair, as certain forms of testosterone your body produces can shrink hair follicles. The most common culprit is dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. When testosterone becomes out of balance with estrogen and progesterone, your body may have higher concentrations of DHT, which may affect your hair. Shrinking hair follicles can make your hair finer, or smaller in diameter, which can make it more brittle. This can make your hair weaker overall, as the individual hair strands that you grow are more delicate. You may notice your hair breaks easier than it used to, or that your pony tail is thinner. In these cases, hormone imbalance treatment for your other symptoms may also help your hair become stronger.

Stress

However, hormones aren’t all to blame for thinning hair during menopause. Other common symptoms of menopause can also lead to hair loss. For example, stress is a common cause for hair loss and thinning for women at any age. Stress can cause your hair follicles to get “stuck” in the dormant phase of hair growth. If this happens, you may notice thinning throughout your scalp.

Many women experience high levels of stress during menopause. For example, hormone imbalances can lead to anxiety and depression symptoms. Another reason many women feel more stress during menopause can be due to other symptoms like hot flashes or difficulty sleeping. Not only can this affect your overall health, it can also lead to thinning hair.

How Can Thinning Hair Affect Me?

While thinning hair itself doesn’t usually affect your physical health directly, there are many ways hair loss can negatively impact your well-being. One study showed that 55% of women who were experiencing some form of hair loss also experienced symptoms of depression. In this same study, about 89% of those women noticed improvements in their depressive symptoms after receiving treatment for hair loss. Many women notice they have lower self-esteem, confidence, and negative body image after experiencing hair loss.

The problem with hair loss during menopause is that it doesn’t just signal hormone imbalances or extra stress, it can also cause negative consequences for your mental, emotional, and social health. Many women notice that they’re less likely to engage in social activities if they experience menopausal hair loss. They may also feel anxiety and stress about their hair. Over time, this can also affect your overall well-being and quality of life. Therefore, if you’re experiencing thinning hair, it’s important to talk to your doctor. If you’re experiencing other symptoms as well, our provider may recommend hormone replacement treatment.

What Role Does Hormone Replacement Treatment Play in Hair Thinning During Menopause?

Hormone replacement treatment during menopause may help with thinning hair if it’s related to hormone changes. Our provider may prescribe estrogen replacement therapy to help bring your hormones back into balance and back up to healthy baseline levels if you have low estrogen during menopause. This may help your hair in a few ways.

First, as we learned, estrogen plays a significant role during hair growth. Increasing estrogen levels during hormone replacement treatment may help your hair stay in the growing phase for longer than it would without hormone injections. It can also help your body keep testosterone levels in balance to help reduce the shrinking effects testosterone can have on hair follicles. In addition, some studies show that if you start hormone imbalance treatment early on for menopause symptoms, it may help you maintain your current hair density. This can help you reduce how much hair you lose throughout the course of menopause.

Also, hormone replacement treatment can help with symptoms that may cause stress, which can also contribute to hair loss. Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep difficulties, and mood changes can all play a significant part in high stress levels during menopause. However, estrogen shots can help reduce these symptoms and can also help you manage them more easily. This often results in lower stress levels, which can also help with hair loss when it is stress-related. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of menopause that are affecting your quality of life, it’s important to reach out and discuss your options.

Let’s Talk About Hormone Replacement Treatment for Menopause

At HerKare, our focus is to help women feel their best with personalized health care solutions. We understand the many ways menopause can impact your life, so we work with you to find treatments that are tailored to you. Our providers take the time to listen, then we’ll work together to find ways to help you improve your physical, emotional, and sexual health. We’re here to help you enjoy life, not just push through unwanted menopause symptoms. Schedule an appointment online today!

Hormone Replacement Therapy as a Hair Loss Treatment – Hair Loss Center

Menopausal women may have another treatment option for their hair loss: hormone replacement therapy. Although controversial, these hormones — available in estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches — can help prevent hair loss as well as ease menopause symptoms.

By Diana RodriguezMedically Reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Reviewed: February 8, 2011

Medically Reviewed

When women experience thinning hair and balding on the scalp, they have a number of options.

Women may opt for a topical treatment like minoxidil (Rogaine) or ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral shampoo) as their hair loss treatment.

But women who are menopausal, experiencing severe hot flashes, and are prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for their menopausal symptoms may get a double-whammy benefit: HRT can be a good treatment for hair loss, as well.

About Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy involves taking female hormones, typically estrogen and progestin together. Women may get these hormones in varying forms, including estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches.

HRT is most often prescribed to help women combat the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, including:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Moodiness
• Loss of libido

Menopausal women may also take hormone replacement therapy to ward off osteoporosis, a bone-thinning condition that is common in women after menopause due to a drop in estrogen levels.

HRT and Hair Loss

Estrogen is related to hair growth — and hair loss. During pregnancy, for example, a woman’s estrogen levels are higher than normal, which signals more hair follicles to “grow” and fewer to “rest.”

While estrogen levels are high, women have full, thick hair. But when they drop, such as after a pregnancy or during and after menopause, more hair enters the “resting” phase, where it soon falls out and causes thinning and even balding patches.

So for women who have hair loss caused by low estrogen levels, hormone replacement therapy may restore estrogen levels, ward off menopausal symptoms — and slow hair loss.

HRT as a Hair Loss Treatment: Benefits and Risks

Although it’s generally only prescribed as a last resort for menopausal symptoms, hormone replacement therapy is a common and very effective hair loss treatment for some women — as long as they are menopausal or post-menopausal and are not at higher risk for adverse effects from HRT. It’s most often prescribed for women who have androgenetic alopecia, also called pattern baldness. Hormone replacement therapy has a number of benefits for both general health and symptom management, but also a number of side effects — which range from unpleasant to dangerous.

Serious side effects of hormone replacement therapy can include:

• Slightly increased risk of breast cancer (when HRT is taken long-term)
• Higher risk of dying if you do get breast cancer
• For women with an intact uterus, increased risk of uterine cancer if estrogen replacement is not accompanied by progesterone therapy
• Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• Increased risk of blood clots

Some women may experience uncomfortable side effects that are less serious, including:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding (which will need to be evaluated to rule out the possibility of uterine cancer)
• Nausea and bloating
• Irritability
• Frequent headaches
• Sore breasts

Before you start hormone replacement therapy, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the possible risks and negative effects versus the benefits of HRT. If you’re already at an increased risk for health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and blood clots, HRT may not be the best hair loss treatment for you. If you are prescribed HRT, it important to take the lowest doses that are effective, and to only take the drugs for the shortest amount of time needed to control symptoms.

Getting HRT: Progesterone and Estrogen Pills and Creams

Topical estrogen and progesterone creams and oral medications are generally the forms prescribed for post-menopausal women with androgenetic alopecia. But HRT will rarely, if ever, be prescribed for treatment of hair loss alone.] If you have other bothersome symptoms which might warrant HRT, in addition to hair loss, you’ll first need to undergo a thorough gynecologic and physical exam, and will likely have blood tests done to measure hormone levels before these drugs are prescribed.

You will need to check with your health insurance company to find out if hormone replacement therapy will be fully or partially covered, or how much your copayment will be. If you don’t have health insurance, costs can still vary greatly depending on the type of medication you get, and whether you take brand name or generic drugs. Prices may range from as little as about $7 per month to as high as $150 a month for hormone replacement therapy.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to deciding whether hormone replacement therapy is the right hair loss treatment for you. Talk it over with your doctor, and determine the best way to restore hair growth without risking your health.

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causes of hair loss in women and how to deal with them

When hair begins to noticeably fall out, most often the problem is hormonal changes or an imbalance of vitamins. But these are not the only reasons – and our experts are ready to tell you everything you need!

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Hair

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Hair plays a huge role in our self-perception. Am I blonde or brunette? Do I have a perky pixie haircut or long mermaid curls? Even if we discard (and do it right!) stereotypes that hair affects a woman’s identity, it’s hard not to notice how the mood rises after a change of image, haircut or color.

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

It is not surprising that hair loss directly affects our self-esteem, mood and self-confidence. According to experts, in some cases, experiences are so strong that they lead to chronic stress, neurosis and even depression.

Science pays incomparably more attention to male pattern baldness than to female pattern baldness, although it is we who bear hair loss harder. However, we still have something to tell you.

Exploring the life cycle of hair

Healthy human hair follows roughly the same pattern. It all starts with the active growth phase (anagen), which lasts 3-5 years. This is followed by a transition period (catagen) lasting about ten days, and finally the final phase (telogen) when the hair falls out. After that, the follicle remains inactive for about three months, and then the cycle repeats again.

In some people, the hair passes to the third phase faster than usual, which is a reaction to a variety of stimuli. These can be nutritional deficiencies, illness, surgery, or thyroid hormone problems.

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In general, hair loss, hair thinning, deterioration in appearance, and split ends occur when the normal life cycle of the hair is disrupted. Some of the reasons for this are common to men and women, and some are unique to us. According to experts, it is normal for people to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day. If this number increases, and the appearance of the hair worsens, it’s time for you to contact a trichologist.

Hair loss due to hormonal imbalance, acute stress, malnutrition or micronutrient deficiencies is usually reversible. It is much more difficult to reverse the process if the cause of baldness is associated with a genetic predisposition or specific autoimmune processes. A trichologist usually starts by ordering blood tests to determine the cause of baldness and acting on the results.

Hormones

Oh, those hormones, they can turn our skin, hair and nails into a nightmare. Or, on the contrary, make the mood delightful, make the skin shine and the hair shine.

Hair health is affected by the right balance of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Estrogen normally makes hair grow nice and thick, but too much of it upsets the balance: the body releases more testosterone in response. Paradoxically, high levels of estrogen lead to male-type, testosterone-type hair loss. Hormone imbalance is usually determined by a genetic predisposition, but various diseases can also be the cause.

Hormones during pregnancy

Freshly baked mothers are often frightened when they find a large amount of fallen hair on the comb. What is this, a seasonal molt? Will a baby and I become equally bald?

Don’t worry: hair loss after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy you got a lush, shiny mane of fresh hair in the active growth phase. After the birth of a child, the level of hormone levels changed, which led to the loss of “beginners”. Sometimes they take the company and the hair that you carefully grew before pregnancy. Doctors attribute this to the physical stress of the body due to childbirth and hormonal changes.

Most often, prolapse begins three months after the birth of the baby and ends after another four. Eat properly and nutritiously, make sure you get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Soon the new hair will hatch into the light.

Hormones during menopause

As we have already said, estrogen and progesterone make our hair lively and thick, but it is these hormones that decrease sharply during menopause. Androgens (“male” hormones) are no longer compensated by estrogens, which leads to hair loss. Usually, replacement therapy and special drugs that suppress the activity of testosterone cope well with this problem.

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland regulates our metabolism, so hair loss and weight gain are a reason for the doctor to check the level of hormones of this particular organ. With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not work productively enough, which can lead to reversible alopecia and even eyebrow loss. But don’t worry, after hormone levels, all hair will grow back.

Anemia

Iron deficiency, or anemia, is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women.

Lack of iron in the body directly affects the quality of the hair and its life cycle. Hair quickly enters the telogen phase, in which the hair follicle is released and falls into “hibernation”. Therefore, keep an eye on the level of iron in the blood, especially if you have heavy periods or a strict vegetarian (vegan) diet.

Iron is used not only in hair growth, but also in the production of red blood cells. Considering that their quantity and quality are much more important for the body than your hairstyle, in conditions of deficiency, it resolutely makes a choice in favor of new blood cells. However, this problem is quite easy to solve by taking iron supplements, both in the form of injections and in the form of tablets

Eating disorders

This is an umbrella term that can refer to various conditions (anorexia, orthorexia, bulimia) in varying proportions. The body reacts to them in different ways, but always with physical stress, often including hair loss. The keratin that makes up the hair is not vital for our body, and in conditions of food shortage, they simply stop growing.

The body clearly prioritizes in extreme situations, and renewal of hair, nails and skin is at the very bottom of the list.

The good news is that when you return to a nutritious diet rich in vitamins and trace elements, the hair returns to normal growth after about six months.

Let’s not forget that even when overeating, people can be left without the necessary micro and macro elements. If a person eats sweets and fast food, his body “starves”, which can also affect the condition of the hair.

Heredity

Hereditary alopecia is sometimes found among women. It usually looks like a more or less uniform decrease in the number of active follicles throughout the head (rather than clearly defined hairless areas).

This kind of baldness can start at almost any age, but is more often triggered by menopause because it is, among other things, related to androgen levels. Women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome may notice hair loss earlier as the condition is associated with an excess of “male” hormones.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia

This is a rather rare condition that occurs predominantly in postmenopausal women. With fibrosing alopecia (or, as it is also called, frontotemporal recession), hair is lost irreversibly, leaving bald areas in front and on the sides of the head. Doctors do not know exactly why this happens, but they suggest that autoimmune processes are to blame – a woman’s body attacks the hair follicles, leaving scar tissue instead. Unfortunately, this process is irreversible.

Insulin imbalance

If a woman eats a lot of foods with a high glycemic index and leads a sedentary lifestyle, then her body responds with high levels of insulin. Which, in turn, disrupts ovulation and instructs the ovaries to produce more testosterone – with predictable results.

Fortunately, after the return of insulin and hormones to healthy limits, the quality of the hair is restored.

Stress

We know how destructive stress can be for the body. It starts the overproduction of cortisol, which gives the command to insulin, which, in turn (as we already know), provokes an overabundance of testosterone. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, there’s a pretty good chance your hair will fall out in two to four months. It will take them about six months to recover and “return to duty.”

the role of hormones and their types

Brittle, falling hair is a problem for most modern women. This problem is associated with ecology, malnutrition and hormonal imbalance. To find its cause, you need to determine the concentration of hormones in the blood. Therefore, it does not hurt you to know which hormones to take for hair loss in order to make a diagnosis.

The role of hormones in the human body

Hormones are biologically active substances produced by endocrine glands. These substances regulate all physiological processes. They are in the blood of both women and men, but in different composition and concentration.

Some of these biologically active substances are responsible for hair growth and hair loss. Consider what hormones make hair fall out and what makes it grow.

Which hormones are responsible for hair growth in women?

The health and appearance of the hairline in women depends on the following hormones:

1. Estradiol – the main female hormone produced by the ovaries (female sex hormones are also called estrogens). This biologically active substance is responsible for the structure of the female figure, emotions, sexual and reproductive functions. It is also a hair growth hormone in women. Thanks to estradiol, women’s hair looks much more magnificent than men’s.
2. Somatotropin produced by the thyroid gland. This substance helps to restore hair follicles and determines hair color.
3. Thyrotropic hormone , also produced by the thyroid gland. This biologically active substance affects the strength of the hair shaft.
4. Melatonin produced by the pineal gland.
5. Progesterone is another female sex hormone produced in the ovaries.

Hormones that affect hair loss in women

If the substances listed above are hormones responsible for hair growth in women, then testosterone and prolactin cause hair loss. As you know, testosterone is a male sex hormone, but it is also produced in the body of women, only in much smaller quantities. In men, baldness causes both an excessive concentration of this substance in the blood and its deficiency, but in women, hair problems begin with an increased content of the hormone in the body.

At a high concentration of testosterone, most of it is converted into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that affects hair loss. It adversely affects the condition of the hair follicles on the head and causes male pattern baldness. That is, a woman’s hair falls out in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe temples and forehead. In this case, there may be increased hair growth throughout the body and other symptoms: coarsening of the voice, acne, obesity, decreased libido, lethargy.

Prolactin is also a hormone that affects hair loss in women. With a normal content of this substance in the blood, it does not affect the condition of the hairline. But at high concentrations, prolactin leads to severe hair loss throughout the head or to male pattern baldness.

Hormonal diseases and conditions that lead to hair loss

From the text above, you learned which hormone is responsible for hair growth. Several types of biologically active substances are responsible for this process. But their positive effect on growth is observed only at normal concentrations in the blood. With problems with the functioning of the endocrine glands, these same hormones can cause hair loss and baldness. For example:

1. Lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone leads to fragility and lifelessness of the hairline. If the thyroid gland is not treated, hair loss will follow throughout the head;
2. An excess of thyroid-stimulating hormone also has a bad effect on a woman’s hairstyle. After all, an increased amount of thyroid hormones and hair loss are interconnected. With such a violation, the hair shaft softens, which leads to diffuse loss;
3. Lack of growth hormone is a direct path to baldness;
4. Progesterone deficiency causes hair loss of color, dullness and brittleness. Brittle hair falls out quickly, not having time to grow back;
5. Reduced concentration of melatonin also leads to hair loss.

You must not ignore temporary adverse conditions. For example, when you are stressed, your body produces a large amount of adrenaline.

If a stressful situation does not develop in the future, adrenaline is excreted from the body. But with frequent problems, he will not have time to withdraw. But this substance belongs to the hormones of baldness in women.