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What hormones cause hair loss in women?

Hormonal imbalances linked to androgens, estrogens, cortisol, thyroid hormones or insulin are often responsible for the hair loss of women. When these hormones are too low or too high, they can reduce hair follicles and shorten your hair growth cycle. These changes cause clarification and hair loss (alopecia).

Hormones regulate many bodily functions, including hair growth. The hair grows and fall into a cycle which includes the growth phase (agen phase), the transition phase (catagen phase) and the rest or discharge phase (telogen phase). Hormonal imbalances linked to the following hormones can influence the duration of these phases and the operation of your hair follicles:

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

DHT is an androgen, a primary male sex hormone, which helps men develop facial hair and a deeper voice. However, women also produce low DHT levels. In men and women, testosterone turns into DHT to cultivate pubic hair and hair.

When DHT levels are too high, the hair follicles on your head may decrease, the growth phase decreases and the loss phase increases. These effects cause lightening on the hair on top of the scalp and spread out the room line. Hair loss caused by high levels of DHT is called androgenic alopecia, also known as feminine hair loss.

Esturogen

Estrogen is a primary female sexual hormone that mainly helps women develop their reproductive system and breasts. The hormone also increases the active hair growth phase for thicker and longer hair.

The low estrogen levels can more often cause hair follicles in the rest phase, which makes the hair fake and lose in larger tufts. Estrogens also help to prevent testosterone from converting DHT into your hair follicles. Thus, low estrogen levels can also cause female pattern hair loss.

Progesterone

Progress levels fluctuate to regulate menstruation, prepare your uterus for pregnancy and support pregnancy. Like estrogens, progesterone helps block testosterone conversion to DHT. Consequently, low progesterone levels can indirectly cause hair loss by allowing DHT to accumulate in your hair follicles.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps your body react to stress and enter the “combat or leak” mode. High levels of cortisol caused by physical or emotional stress can cause temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium.

The telogen effluvium occurs when high levels of cortisol bring the hair into a prolonged rest phase (telogen phase). This makes the hair decrease and fall months after a very stressful experience. People with telogen effluvium often notice clarification, rupture and increased loss on their pillowcases and their hair brushes.

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland in your neck helps produce hormones that regulate heart rate, mood, digestion and breathing. Thyroid hormones also help the hair follicles to develop and stay healthy.

If the thyroid does not work properly, thyroid hormone levels can increase or decrease. The high and low levels of thyroid hormones can slow hair growth cycles, causing thin and brittle hair that can get rid and fall.

Insulin

Insulin tells your body to move glucose (sugar) out of your blood circulation and in cells to create energy. If your body does not produce enough insulin, sugar accumulates in your blood and can damage blood vessels. The fact of limiting oxygen, blood flow and nutrients not or few nutrients to your hair follicles. Consequently, hair growth can slow down, increasing hair thinning, loss or loss.

Insulin imbalances can also lead to high levels of DHT, contributing to the hair loss of female patterns.

Hormonal imbalances that cause women’s hair loss is often triggered by health problems or high stress situations. The factors that contribute to hormonal imbalances and hair loss in women include:

  • Menopause: When you stop having a menstrual cycle and enter the menopause, your body decreases the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Low estrogen levels can cause an end of hair and fall. Low estrogens and progesterone can also allow more DHT to accumulate and cause female hair loss.
  • Stress: The physical or emotional stress caused by childbirth, traumatic life events, poor diet, injuries or disease can increase cortisol levels. This can cause hair loss in large handles about a month after a strong constraint. This hair loss is generally temporary and decreases after 6 to 8 months.
  • Thyroid disease: Hyperthyroidism (hyperactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (sub-active thyroid) can cause temporary hair loss and hair thinning. The treatment of these conditions generally helps the hair to grow back, but some thyroid drugs can also contribute to hair loss.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (SOPK): This condition means that the ovaries produce high levels of androgens like DHT, causing hair loss at the front of the scalp and temples. Treatment of SOPK with drugs can often help repel hair.
  • Diabetes: People with diabetes do not produce enough insulin to regulate their blood sugar. Low insulin levels can also make hair start to lighten and fall.
  • Genetics and Age: If you have family history of female baldness, you might be more likely to develop high DHT levels. Aging can also increase your risk of increasing DHT hair loss and women.
  • Control of hormonal births: Women already at risk of high DHT levels can see that contraceptive pills containing more androgens cause female pattern hair loss.

Hormonal imbalances that cause hair loss, especially female pattern hair loss, are not always avoidable. However, certain steps to improve your health and maintain a better hormonal balance include:

  • Manage stress: Keep the cortisol levels under control by managing stress with hobbies, meditation, yoga or time in nature.
  • Eat a balanced diet: Meals rich in nutrients help your body work for optimal hormone production.
  • Stay active: Practice regularly to help regulate hormones, such as insulin and de -stretching to avoid high levels of cortisol.
  • Sleep enough: Aim at least 7 hours of sleep every night to help regulate cortisol levels and allow your body to rest for better production of hormones.

Hormonal hair loss after birth and menopause generally improves after six months to two years as hormone rebalancing. However, hormonal imbalances caused by diabetes, sopk or thyroid conditions generally need medical treatment to manage your hormonal levels and your hair loss. Some ways to manage these conditions and treat hair loss include:

  • Minoxidil: Minoxidil is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat women’s hair loss. It does not directly abuse DHT levels which cause hair loss, but this increases the blood flow to the hair follicles to help repel and prevent more hair loss.
  • Spironolactone: People with sopk -related hair loss are often prescribed in Spironolactone to help block DHT that causes hair loss.
  • Thyroid drugs: If you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, taking thyroid drugs can help increase or decrease your thyroid hormone levels. This can help rebalance your hormone levels and help you push your hair.
  • Hormonal replacement therapy (HS): If you feel hair loss during menopause, HRT which replaces the levels of lost estrogen or progesterone can help treat hair loss.

Consult your healthcare provider if you start losing more hair than usual or notice bald patches. The other signs and symptoms you may need medical care include:

  • Quick or sudden hair loss
  • Hair loss or lightening in the hair part
  • Hair falling into an unusual pattern
  • Lose hair in adolescence or twenty
  • Hair loss with pain or itching
  • Shoe on your eyebrows
  • Sudden weight gain, muscle weakness, fatigue and extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures
  • Increase in acne, facial hair or abnormal menstrual cycles
  • Infected areas on your scalp

Because different hormonal imbalances can cause feminine hair loss, it is important to see your primary care provider or an endocrinologist to identify the deep cause. An endocrinologist is a doctor specializing in the treatment of hormone conditions.

If it is not treated, hair loss of feminine motif caused by high levels of DHT can become permanent. The delay in treatment of hormonal imbalances caused by untreated diabetes or thyroid conditions can also cause serious health complications.

Many hormones help regulate hair growth cycles and the health of the hair follicle. Hormonal imbalances linked to DHT, estrogen, cortisol, thyroid hormones and insulin can cause the end of hair and falls. These imbalances are often triggered by menopause, childbirth, stress, sopk, diabetes and thyroid problems. If you notice significant hair loss, see your supplier to get help.

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