Hair Loss Due to Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Hair loss exceeding an average of 50-100 hairs per day can be considered abnormal or due to hormonal imbalance in women. An increase in this volume may be a cause for worry. Most commonly, lifestyle and hormonal changes are responsible for hair. This may be a result of physiological responses such as stress, pregnancy, and lactation. These conditions can lead to hormonal imbalance-induced alopecia in women.

The complex hormonal changes faced by women at different times contribute a lot to the status of their hair. Disease conditions affecting different tissues and organs may also lead to hormonal changes causing hair loss in women of different ages. The menstrual cycle can influence hair health. 

Conditions That Predispose to Hormonal Imbalance-Induced Alopecia

• Stress: The production of cortisol in stressful situations causes more production of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone predisposing women to hair loss.
• Disease conditions: Diseases and conditions such as hypothyroidism can cause fluctuations in thyroid levels, causing alopecia. Other conditions such as diabetes (due to insulin resistance), can also lead to alopecia.
• Pregnancy and childbirth: During pregnancy, the body experiences hormonal changes that might cause hair to thin out and eventually fall out. However, this is only a short-term issue; 90 days after conception, the hair will start to grow back.  
• Medications: Medications used like birth control pills and hormonal therapy in cancer can cause hormone-related hair loss. 
• Menopause: During menopause, a woman goes through a lot of changes in the body as the estrogen level drastically falls, and since it is no longer capable of balancing DHT levels, it causes hair loss as well.

Hormones That Cause Hair Loss in Women

Estrogen and progesterone: 

These two hormones are associated with mensuration and pregnancy. Both estrogen and progesterone positively influence the hair follicles and are essential for long and lustrous hair. A decrease in their levels causes an increase in dihydrotestosterone levels after childbirth, and menopause can lead to alopecia. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the first five months of pregnancy can also lead to shedding of hair known as telogen effluvium. Genetically predisposed women may also experience female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia).

Testosterone: 

Testosterone is present in small amounts in females despite being a male sex hormone. Different underlying conditions such as genetics, poor diet, and polycystic ovarian syndrome may predispose women to produce excessive amounts of testosterone. This leads to obesity, facial hair, and possible hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone miniaturizes the hair follicles, thus causing alopecia. It is a common factor between men and women in androgenic alopecia which causes a diffused thinning of hair all over the scalp in females.

Prolactin: 

Prolactin can induce the production of androgens in women. This can lead to alopecia. Research also suggests that the prolonged presence of prolactin in the blood can predispose to alopecia in women.

Thyroxin: 

Thyroxin is a hormone that helps in regulating metabolism. In disease conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, women may experience diffuse alopecia called telogen effluvium. Both conditions can also cause an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata in women. Another disease of the thyroid gland called goiter can also lead to alopecia. Studies have shown that women are more likely to have issues with the thyroid gland than men.

Insulin: 

This is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and it helps the body in regulating blood sugar levels. Numerous bodily functions, including the storage of body fat and hair loss, can be impacted by insulin. According to studies, those who have insulin resistance are likely candidates for androgenic alopecia. 

Cortisol: 

When the body is stressed, cortisol is created in the body. It is known to cause serious inflammation in the body. If sustained for long periods, a breakdown of healthy tissues may occur including the hair follicles. Overproduction of cortisol also makes the body oversensitive to DHT and thus can cause hair loss.

Melatonin: 

The hair follicles in the skin release this hormone in tiny levels. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant, protecting the hair follicles from the damaging effects of free radicals. It also regulates the activity of other hormones such as estrogen and prolactin, thus regulating and modulating hair loss. A reduction in the levels of this hormone thus may lead to alopecia. 

What are some hormonal hair loss symptoms? 

Be mindful of sudden hair thinning, especially at the crown of your head, if you experience hormonal hair loss. When you brush or wash your hair, you can also notice additional hair falling out. Additionally, there could be modifications in hair texture, such as dryness, brittleness, or frizziness. It is advised that you visit your healthcare professional if you are concerned about hormonal hair loss to get a diagnosis and go over your treatment choices.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of hormonal imbalance-induced alopecia involves proper medical history and physical examination. A full hormonal assay may be required to narrow down the possible cause and management. It is necessary to consult a health professional quickly to avoid permanent damage to the hair follicles.

How to Manage or Stop Hormonal Hair Loss in Women

Following a diagnosis, different treatment approaches are available for the management of hair loss due to hormonal imbalance.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: This requires prescriptions for hormonal therapy depending on which hormone is responsible. Some of the hormones used may include estrogen, progesterone, melatonin, etc. These may help in menopause and postpartum alopecia. The preparations may come as pills, patches, and topical creams.

Modification of lifestyle: This is one way to stop hormonal hair loss naturally. A change in diet and general lifestyle is good in cases of stress and age-induced alopecia. Some essential minerals, vitamins, and oils may be included in the diet for proper body maintenance. 

Medications: Minoxidil is an approved topical ointment that is available for the management of alopecia. It aids in normalizing the hair follicles and increases blood circulation to the scalp, thus effectively treating androgenetic alopecia. Another treatment is platelet-rich plasma is a non-invasive and therapeutic treatment that transfuses your blood platelets, using an injection to the root of your hair.

Hair transplant: This is another treatment that is effective and is gaining popularity. It involves the transplanting of hair follicles into the affected areas of the body. This is quite effective in cases where damage has been sustained to the hair follicles. It is also recommended for patients with alopecia of genetic origin. 

Check Hair Transplant in Turkey for additional information.

It is worthy of note that medical help should be sought when signs of alopecia and hair thinning are noticed. This is because early intervention may reduce the effects of the etiology and possible medical costs with time.