What Hormone Causes Hair Loss In Females

Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin And So Much More

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that is essential to our immunity, bone health and many other processes. With regard to hair, it actually helps create new hair follicles by initiating the anagen phase. It does so by regulating the expression of genes that are required for hair follicle cycling. A number of symptoms, such as hair loss, can occur when the body lacks enough vitamin D. Its not surprising then when researchers found suboptimal serum vitamin D levels in women with telogen effluvium or female pattern hair loss . Moreover, patients with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition which gives rise to hair loss, also have low serum vitamin D levels . Emerging clinical research is putting forward recommendations to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in patients with hair loss .

Most people can get the bulk of their vitamin D through sunlight exposure or through diet. Some foods are naturally rich in this nutrient, such as fatty fish , mushrooms, or foods fortified with vitamin D . Vegan or vegetarian diets tend to provide less vitamin D, so supplements may be needed. Additionally, finding a balance between protecting skin from sun exposure and absorbing the vitamin may be essential to achieving optimal vitamin D levels.

Treatment For Hair Loss Is Out There

Most cases of increased shedding will gradually resolve on their own without treatment, Dr. Schlosser says. But if your hair doesn’t return to its normal fullness within nine months, see a doctor for an evaluation to find out whether something else is going on. And if you have other worrying symptoms, like itching, pain, burning, flaking, or redness, you should seek help sooner.

See your primary care provider or go directly to a dermatologist who specializes in treating hair loss. They can determine what type it is and what the right treatment approach is for you based on which therapies are currently available for your specific issue.

In addition to changes in products and hairstyling habits, your doctor may prescribe topical treatments to treat hair loss, like minoxidil, or direct you to an over-the-counter version, like Rogaine . They might also recommend treatments like platelet-rich plasma injections , which can be helpful for some patients, SELF explained previously. If youre curious about your options, check in with your doctor or dermatologist.

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How Can Hair Loss In Women Be Prevented

Preventing hair loss is not possible when it is due to disease, aging, heredity or physical stressors like injuries. You can prevent hair loss caused by caustic chemicals or tight hairstyles by avoiding them. You might be able to prevent some hair loss by eating a healthy diet that provides necessary nutrients in terms of vitamins, minerals and protein. You can stop smoking.

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What Does Hair Loss In Women Look Like

We know the causes for hair loss are different for men and women, and similarly, so are the patterns of hair loss. Men experience thinning from the forehead or the crown of the head while women tend to notice thinning on the top third to one half of the scalp with the maintenance of the hairline. They often complain that they see the part in their hair gradually becoming wider and more visible. Sometimes they will see more of their scalp than normal when their hair is pulled back.

You can often hear a woman experiencing hair loss saying:

My hair is shedding!

I have lost my hair volumemy ponytail

My hair is thinning in the front.

I have a wide part that you can see.

I have tried all these crazy things and they didnt work!

Hair Loss Treatment For Women

There are two key goals with hair loss:

The following list of potential treatments are general and not meant to be prescriptive in any way please consult with your health practitioner before starting any of the following:

Oral Silica- Is known to improve connective tissue and in particular will improve the tensile strength and elasticity of hair strands.

Oral Collagen- Provides peptides that stimulate hair production, with the added benefit of improving your skin health.

There have several studies that have shown that micro-needling of the scalp with the application of some different substances topically has helped with hair loss. The needling helping to increase the depth to which the topicals can penetrate.

If androgens are an issue with hormonal hair loss then addressing these with the application of different herbal medicines and nutraceuticals.

Using things like green tea, saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pygeum.

If high cortisol is an issue there is an endless list of high quality herbal medicines that can help balance this out along side stress management protocols we can achieve a calmer and happier nervous system.

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What Hormone Causes Hair Loss In Women

It is a common question when it comes to hair loss in women. What hormone actually causes the loss? Is there only one particular hormone or can different hormones that can cause it?

For men and women, there is one hormone that is lurking behind the hormonal hair loss that they are experiencing. It is a hormone that is present at some level in both women and men.

Which Hormones Influence The Health Of Your Hair

For starters, there are five types of hormones that can affect your hair. Dr Bijlani dives into the details of each.

Androgens

Known as the male hormones , these are present in large quantities in men and smaller quantities in women. The diffused hair thinning in women, and thinning pattern in men is related to DHT , which could be due to high levels of or an increased sensitivity to the hormone. Along with causing hair thinning in men and women, these high levels of DHT also lead to excessive facial hair growth.

Estrogen and progesterone

These female hormones are abundantly present in women and found in smaller quantities in men. High estrogen and progesterone levels, typically seen during pregnancy, help women grow thick and fuller hair, and also balance and reduce the production of DHT. As these hormones reduce during menopause, that is primarily when hair thinning issues start to occur for women.

Thyroid

Another hormone that affects hair is the thyroid hormone. People with an underactive or overactive thyroid can have issues like hair thinning, hair fall, brittle hair, dry hair, etc.

Stress hormones

Stress hormones like cortisol disrupt the hair cycle and cause sudden bouts of hair loss and hair thinning. The best steps in this case are lifestyle modification.

Insulin and IGF-1

These are also hormones that affect hair. Many women with PCOD are facing insulin resistance, which often affects their quality of hair.

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How To Prevent Hair Loss During Menopause

During perimenopause and menopause, the natural but extreme declines in estrogen levels can cause hair loss for many women between the ages of 40 and 55. Perimenopause is the transitional period prior to menopause when the first natural reduction in estrogen levels occurs. On average, menopause begins at age 51. During menopause, womens bodies produce even less estrogen, which can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and yes, even hair loss.

Be Mindful Of Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are a form of contraception that works by suppressing ovulation and/or making it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant into the lining of the uterus. Hormonal hair loss in women may occur when women start or stop taking certain kinds of contraceptives. The hormones that make birth control pills effective may also cause hair thinning in women who use them. You are more likely to experience this side effect from birth control pills if you have a family history of hair loss. Stopping the pill is also a cause of hair loss in women. Hormones are not the only medication that may be associated with hair loss. Blood thinners and blood pressure medications may do it, too. So can drugs used to treat depression, heart disease, and arthritis.

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Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Hair Loss

A2020 studypublished in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reveals thatboth the hair cycle and hair follicle structure are highly affected by hormone levels.

Can hormone imbalance cause hair loss?

Definitely.

In fact, an imbalance of hormones is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women.

And in both sexes, the incidence of hair loss increases with age.

If you are concerned about current or future hair loss,Nutrition Response Testingat HealthierU can identify any hormonal imbalance you may have and determine the exact lifestyle and dietary changes you need to make to restore your hair growth.

Ferritin Not That Kind Of Store

If you think of iron as the merchandise in the front of the store, ferritin is the storage warehouse in the back. Serum ferritin is a powerful screening tool for iron deficiency. Low serum ferritin gives rise to a condition called anemia.

For those of us whove been anemic at one point or another , we are all too familiar with the symptoms of being really tired and pale. While hair loss is not the most common symptom of iron-deficiency anemia, it does affect approximately half of those with low ferritin stores . Hair follicles actually hang on to ferritin. When the body is low in iron, it can pull ferritin from places like hair follicles, deemed not as important as, lets say, red blood cell production. The resulting effect is diffuse hair loss.

If hair loss is related to insufficient iron in the body, correcting anemia should allow for hair to grow back. But first, screening for low serum ferritin levels is very important, because supplementing with iron when iron levels are normal or high can result in iron overload and toxicity .

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Functional Pathology Testing For Female Hair Loss

Beyond this initial basic list there are a whole host of functional pathology tests that can be done in order to help identify whats most likely causing your hair loss including:

The DUTCH hormone test– This is a comprehensive hormone test that is very useful if androgenic or stress related hair loss is suspected.

Hair tissue mineral analysis– Key for helping to identify potential heavy metal toxicity or issues with sub-optimal mineral levels.

Cortisol profile- Assessing your cortisol response throughout the day to see if this is a significant contributing factor. Many clients claim theyre not stressed however when weve looked at their bodies stress response we get a very different answer.

IgG & IgA- Sensitivity testing, this is particularly useful for women who may have a long standing allergy or sensitivity which may be contributing to the hair loss.

Amino Acid profile- to check for nutritional protein deficiencies which may be contributing.

Gene testing- This can be conducted to confirm presence of genes which may be contributing to the hair thinning.

As tempting as it is to rush out and have all the testing known to man, its important to work with a health practitioner who is experienced on this topic and can help guide you.

You can think of your hair as a little barometer if thats not healthy and well its possible there is a host of other symptoms or health issues just beneath the surface.

How Nutrition Response Testing With Healthieru Can Help You Overcome Hormonal Hair Loss

Can hormone imbalance cause hair loss?

Absolutely.

Do you have to live with hair loss due to hormonal imbalance?

Absolutely not.

Through Nutrition Response Testing at HealthierU, Dr. Sergi can:

• Pinpoint the cause of your hormonal imbalance hair loss
• Evaluate the way your body currently functioning in response to hormonal imbalance
• Develop a customized plan to help your body get back into balance

Get in touch with HealthierU today for your free consultation and find out howholistic nutritioncan help put an end to your hair loss.

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Noticeable Hair Loss In Women Can Be Deeply Distressing Here Are Some Medical Treatments That May Help

About one-third of women experience hair loss at some time in their lives among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss in women often has a greater impact than hair loss does on men w, because its less socially acceptable for them. Alopecia can severely affect a womans emotional well-being and quality of life.

The main type of hair loss in women is the same as it is men. Its called androgenetic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss. In men, hair loss usually begins above the temples, and the receding hairline eventually forms a characteristic M shape hair at the top of the head also thins, often progressing to baldness. In women, androgenetic alopecia begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the top of the head. A womans hairline rarely recedes, and women rarely become bald.

There are many potential causes of hair loss in women , including medical conditions, medications, and physical or emotional stress. If you notice unusual hair loss of any kind, its important to see your primary care provider or a dermatologist, to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. You may also want to ask your clinician for a referral to a therapist or support group to address emotional difficulties. Hair loss in women can be frustrating, but recent years have seen an increase in resources for coping with the problem.

Androgenic Or Androgenetic Alopecia

Alopecia means hair loss. Androgenic alopecia, also called androgenetic alopecia, refers to genetic or androgen-based hair loss in men and women. More commonly referred to as female pattern baldness or male pattern baldness, this type of alopecia increases in prevalence with age, causing thinner hair, receding hairlines or baldness. Specifically, male pattern baldness can begin as young as the teens or early 20s.

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How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help

Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.

• In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
• In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
• In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
• Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
• The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.

Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:

• Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
• Steroids.
• Other light treatments.

It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.