Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Counter Pcos
Certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the impact of PCOS on your system. For instance, your diet! According to Dr Shah, Zinc reduces the effects of testosterone and androgens. Hence, it can be consumed as a supplement to arrest hair fall and boost new hair growth.
Similarly, biotin helps in hair growth and reduces hair fall. There is no clear data if biotin affects PCOS-induced hair fall, but it helps with hair loss and hair growth. Plus, when consumed in the proper quantity, it has virtually no side effects.
Another major aspect of winning the fight against PCOS is weight management. It is almost considered as the best treatment for PCOS as losing weight has been associated with lower levels of androgens in your body. Since there is no permanent cure for PCOS, managing it with a proper diet and healthy lifestyle can help counter its negative effect on your mane.
Written by Sumona Boseon Sep 23, 2020
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Psychological Aspects Of Hirsutism And Pcos
Dealing with hirsutism and PCOS can be emotionally difficult. You may feel unfeminine, uncomfortable, or self-conscious about your excessive hair growth or weight, as well as worried about your ability to have children. Even though you may be embarrassed to share these feelings with other people, it is very important to talk with your physician as soon as possible to explore the medical and cosmetic treatments available to treat these disorders. It also is important for you to realize that these are very common problems experienced by many women.
Supplements To Prevent Hair Loss
While supplements arent going to cure hair loss they can help to protect and strengthen new growth.
It is important to stimulate and protect the new growth from damage so it looks healthy and thick. Your hair is constantly in a growing and resting cycle.
Supplements will again take time and consistency but they can make improvements in your locks. It is suggested that you stick with supplements for at least 6 months to see results.
You want to focus on supplements that include iron, zinc, biotin, vitamins D, A, and C.
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Medical Treatments For Pcos Hair Loss
Oral contraceptives
Oral contraceptives, or specifically combined birth control pills with estrogen and progestin, are one of the primary ways to treat PCOS. This is because they help to regulate the menstrual cycle and rebalance hormones, which is the underlying cause of PCOS in the first place.
Anti-androgens
Your doctor may also advise taking anti-androgens. Anti-androgens work by inhibiting the effect of the excess androgens in your body, which are responsible for hair loss in women with PCOS. Your doctor may even prescribe an anti-androgen together with an oral contraceptive to maximize your hair regrowth chances.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil, commonly known by the brand name Rogaine, is another possible medical treatment for hair loss due to PCOS. There is even a type of Rogaine designed specifically for women that is often recommended by dermatologists for patients with PCOS.
While a minoxidil solution like Rogaine does not address the underlying cause of hair loss, it can help with hair regrowth.
Excess Face And Body Hair
Waxing, laser hair removal and electrolysis can be useful measures for reducing body hair growth. Of these, laser is the treatment most likely to result in a significant reduction in excess hair growth. However, repeated treatments are needed over time, and treatment can be costly. If you are considering laser hair removal, it is important to have this performed by a trained professional who uses the correct machine or technique for your skin type. Results can vary depending on your hair colour and skin type.
Some dermatologist practices offer laser hair removal and have particular expertise in treating women with PCOS. They will be able to tell you whether laser hair removal will work on your skin type.
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Say Yes To Home Remedies
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome & Hair Loss
Acute hair loss may be a significant side effect of PCOS. The insulin resistance due to PCOS may lead to an increased production of testosterone in your body that gets converted into dihydrotestosterone . Increased levels of DHT results in the thinning of hair follicles and the diminishing growth of new hair as well. This leads to the onset of patterned baldness in females due to PCOS.
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How Can I Fix My Pcos Hair Loss
When she came to me, Lisas first question was, What should I be eating to make this go away?. I told her that the answer depends on whats causing the PCOS hair loss in the first place. More accurately, whats causing excess androgens.
Not all PCOS is the same and the cause of excess androgens differs between everyone. Asking what diet is best is kind of like asking what type of fuel you should put in your car. It depends on the make and model getting it wrong can bring you to a grinding halt. Like all PCOS symptoms, the key to fixing PCOS hair loss is treating the root cause of high androgens. This could be insulin resistance, high stress hormones, poor gut health, the pill, thyroid issues, or a combination of several of them.
The best thing you can do is find out whats causing your high androgens, then treat this root cause. If you havent read my article:Whats Causing Your PCOS, and Why You Need To Know, then do that now. It will answer a lot of your questions.
Here are some tips that I think everyone with PCOS hair loss can benefit from:
How To Cure Pcos Hair Loss With Ayurveda
There are many medical and ayurvedic ways of curbing the menace of hair loss in persons who are suffering from PCOS. People should be conversant with the quality of the method which is applied in managing the treatment.
In addition, an attempt must be made to rely on natural ways to cure hair loss. For this, you can rely on Ayurveda. In accordance with the interpretation of Ayurveda, there are five fundamental bio-energies which include the lament of Vata, Pita, and Kapla. The collaboration of these is able to maintain the balance of the body.
Therefore, the secrets of Ayurveda bring forth various kinds of ingredients which include aloe vera, cinnamon, fenugreek seeds, Amalaki, Shatavari, and various kinds of herbal shampoos and essential oils for treating the patients who have been suffering from PCOS.
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These elements play a determinative role in improving the hormonal balance of the body without leaving any side effects. They not only help in preventing hair loss but at the same time, help in smoothening the rough hair. These ingredients are better than the allopathic medicines which cause a high risk to the other organs of the body. They are also in the position to control the insulin level of the body and hence, promote a healthy balance that might follow.
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Symptoms Of Pcos Hair Loss
A hormonal imbalance priorly reflects in your hair and skin. PCOS hair loss symptoms start showing up even before the diagnosis of your irregular menstrual cycle. Then again, you cannot predict the exact reason behind your hair loss as it can even occur without any serious cause.
FPHL and DHT hair loss show the following symptoms:
1. Excessive hair shedding, particularly when you brush your hair to remove tangles.
2. While you wash your hair, you can see clumps of hair strands on your palms that come out of your weaker hair follicles.
3. Your frontal hairline recedes, making the upper part of your forehead more visible.
4. The crown part of your scalp is exposed as the hair is thinner.
5. Dandruff builds up, making your scalp dry and itchy.
Other symptoms of PCOS include:
1. Irregular menstrual cycle
6. Increased risk of diabetes and thyroid
Is Hair Regrowth Possible After Hair Loss Due To Pcos
Yes! PCOS hair regrowth is possible if you can address the underlying hormonal imbalance. Once you are rightly diagnosed with PCOS by your doctor and you are put on PCOS treatment, you will notice a significant improvement in the symptoms along with regrowing your hair.
However, if your hair is already damaged, you will need a separate hair care regime to fix it. It may also take time depending on how fast your hair grows. Along with it, having nutritious food will help your hair to be stronger and lustrous.
Wrapping Up
PCOS hair loss is a common symptom among women with PCOS. The good news is, it can be treated when the underlying issue is addressed with medication and other lifestyle changes. Speak to your doctor to understand your PCOS treatment plan.
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How To Style Pcos
While youre treating your polycystic ovary syndrome, there are several techniques that you can use to improve your hairs appearance and make any thinning less obvious:
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Try parting your hair differently. If you have hair loss around your part line, try moving your parting to make it less visible. Middle parts, deep side parts and other styles can all make thinning hair much less obvious.
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Use volumizing hair products. Volumizing shampoos, conditioners, mousses, sprays and other products can all create the appearance of thicker hair. Just make sure not to use any products with harmful ingredients that could irritate your scalp.
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Apply a root concealer. Root concealers and touch-up kits arent just for covering up gray hair theyre also useful for hiding thinning. Try applying these around your part line or hairline to create the appearance of thicker hair.
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Choose a haircut that makes hair loss less visible. If you have hair loss around your hairline, try bangs to draw attention away from your forehead. Layered haircuts are also great for hiding thinning hair, receding hairlines and other forms of pattern hair loss.
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Brush your hair over bald or thinning areas. Finally, if you have obvious bald spots or areas with significant thinning, try brushing your hair over them. You can also wear your hair in a top knot, loose braids or a ponytail to make thin areas less visible.
Androgenic Alopecia In Women Who Have Pcos
Even though some women have thicker than normal hair growth on their face or the rest of their bodies, many women with polycystic ovary syndrome have problems with thinning scalp hair, known as androgenic alopecia or more recently, female pattern hair loss. This is usually due to the high levels of androgens in women with PCOS.
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Pcos Hair Loss Evaluation & Treatments
Medical treatment of PCOS can slow the hair loss progression, but it doesnt always result in powerful hair regrowth. Many PCOS patients consult with hair loss expert Dr. Alan Bauman in-person or virtually to get advice on their PCOS hair loss and learn about what can be done to effectively diagnose, monitor, and treat their condition. Diagnostics may include scalp evaluation, hair growth measurements, lab tests, collaboration with an endocrinologist or ob-gyn. There is no miracle cure for PCOS hair loss and it often requires a multimodal or multi-therapy approach. Dr. Bauman has noted that accurate evaluations including HairCheck measurements and HairCam microscopic analysis of the scalp are critical to benchmark and track the results of treatments and procedures before results are noticeable to the naked eye, so we can determine what treatments are working.
Pcos Hair Loss: Effective Treatment Options For Hair Loss
PCOS-related hair loss can be one of the more troubling symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome , both on a physical and an emotional level. Whether there seem to be more loose strands in the shower or a receding hairline, understanding why hair loss occurs and what can be done about it can be helpful.
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Other Ways To Stop Pcos Hair Loss
Besides Ayurvedic treatments, there are various therapies that you can use to stop PCOS hair loss. These include aromatherapy which restores the psychological and physical well-being in the shortest possible time.
Stress can be the worst enemy of women and hence, acts as a stimulant to PCOS. These Ayurvedic therapies make use of lavender, sandalwood, nutmeg, and other oils, which play a pivotal role in curing stress. As a result, it prevents PCOS hair loss.
In addition, scalp massage with the help of natural oils helps in not only relaxing but at the same time, ensures the strengthening of the hair follicles. A proper massage with essential oils once a week before bathing has long-lasting impacts.
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What Is Female Pattern Hair Loss
Female pattern hair loss is characterized by a loss of hair density at frontal and vertex regions of the scalp . Hair ultimately becomes thinner and shorter in these areasthere is not complete baldness, as seen in men.
It’s important to note that while androgenic alopecia or female pattern hair loss can be seen in women with medical conditions that promote high androgen levels in the body, like PCOS, this type of hair loss is actually more common in postmenopausal womenand their androgen levels are usually normal.
It’s likely that the development of female pattern hair loss involves a complex hormonal interplay including both androgens and estrogen . Other factors may play a role as well, like your genes.
The big difference between hair loss in a male and androgenic alopecia in women with PCOS is that in women with PCOS, the hair follicle remains alive. The good news is that this increases the chance that hair loss therapy will work and cause new hair growth.
Your healthcare provider may also test you for issues like thyroid disease or nutritional deficiencies that can cause hair loss. These issues would need to be treated to prevent additional hair loss.
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