Common Causes Of Hormonal Hair Loss In Women

Hair loss is often a bothersome and embarrassing issue for women, and this condition commonly occurs as a result of a hormone imbalance. The typical causes of hormonal hair loss in women can stem from imbalances in levels of testosterone, estrogen, or thyroid hormones. Certain medical conditions may increase a woman’s likelihood of developing hormone-related issues such as thinning hair on the entire scalp or significant hair loss on the crown of the head. Detailed descriptions and explanations of hormonal hair loss in women are outlined as follows.

Elevated Testosterone/DHT Levels

At elevated levels, the hormone testosterone and its derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can cause hair loss in women. When testosterone interacts with the oil glands in hair follicles, it converts to DHT, which in turn binds to the follicles and promotes hair loss. Men are commonly more susceptible to this cause of pattern baldness, but certain disorders can cause testosterone and DHT levels to rise in women as well.

This type of hormonal hair loss is linked to women who:

• have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
• are menopausal.
• are experiencing certain side effects from birth control.

Estrogen/Progesterone Deficiences

Low estrogen and progesterone levels in women can also cause female pattern baldness, as one of the functions of estrogen is to counteract the effects of testosterone converting into DHT. Typically, women have much higher levels of estrogen than testosterone in their bodies. Because estrogen promotes hair growth, women with normal levels of this hormone are not at high risk for developing hair loss. However, when estrogen levels drop, testosterone and DHT can more readily harm hair follicles.

Hormonal hair loss triggered by a lack of estrogen may occur in women who:

• are entering menopause.
• have gone through menopause and are experiencing hormonal imbalances due to aging.
• have recently gone through childbirth (estrogen levels rise during pregnancy and rapidly decrease post-partum).

Thyroid Hormone Imbalance

An imbalance of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, is another potential cause of hair loss in women. The thyroid hormones aid in metabolic processes of the scalp cells and hair follicles, and when the thyroid is either overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism), the hormonal imbalance may cause a woman’s hair to thin or fall out. Thyroid-related hormone problems are relatively common in women who experience female pattern baldness.

Women who have PCOS are not only faced with elevated testosterone levels, but may also lose hair as a result of hypothyroidism.

Treatment Options

Medical professionals can address the various causes of hormonal hair loss in women with treatment options such as hormone replacement therapy, prescription pills or topical solutions, and specialized diets. Alternatively, women who lose hair due to hormonal issues can try natural healing methods such as Ayurvedic hair loss treatment, which involves the application of essential oils to the scalp. While hair loss in women is sometimes permanent, treatments can help delay the progress of the condition and hair regrowth may be possible.

References

1. American Hair Loss Association–https://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/causes_of_hair_loss.asp

2. Surviving-Hairloss–https://www.surviving-hairloss.com/Estrogen_and_Hair_Loss.html

3. Hair Diseases–https://www.hairdiseases.com/preventing-hair-loss/causes-of-hair-loss.shtml