Hormonal Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments & Solutions
Hormonal Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments & Solutions
Hormonal hair loss is a common issue that affects many people across different stages in their life, whether that be women during pregnancy and menopause or other hormonal changes after puberty.1 Losing hair can be distressing for many, so understanding how to address this type of hair loss is key to restoring confidence. Learn more about the causes, treatments and prevention strategies for hormonal hair loss in women and men with Nioxin.
What is Hormonal Hair Loss?
Hormonal hair loss is directly linked to a hormone imbalance. Androgens, a group of sex hormones including testosterone and DHEA, naturally convert into DHT, and are found in both men and women.
This process stimulates blood flow to the hair follicle, promoting hair growth. When androgens, particularly DHT, bind to hair follicle receptors, they can shrink the follicles, leading to thinner, weaker hair strands and eventually hair loss.Identifying early signs of hormonal hair loss can help you find suitable and effective treatments to slow or reverse the process.
What is Androgenetic Alopecia?
The most common type of hormonal hair loss in men and women is androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as pattern hair loss.2 The symptoms of male and female pattern hair loss include thinning and noticeable widening at the crown of the head and excessive shedding3.
The signs of male pattern baldness usually start at the front of the head, receding the hair line, and creating a V shape. After this, hair often begins to thin at the top of the head, eventually creating a bald patch. This process is usually gradual, taking around 20 to 30 years with many men not experiencing male pattern baldness until their thirties. 4
Female pattern hair loss tends to not be as severe, generally, most women only experience thinning in the area that they part their hair.3 Many women may also experience hair loss during their menstrual cycle but often this resolves itself naturally.2 If you have a particularly heavy period, it’s likely that your iron levels will be low, causing more hair loss than usual.3
How Hormones Affect Hair Growth
Hormones play a crucial role in regulating the hair growth cycle. Normally, hair goes through phases: growth (anagen), transition (catagen), resting (telogen) and returning growth (mesanagen). When hormone levels fluctuate, they can shorten the growing phase, leading to increased shedding and thinning.2
As mentioned, DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a byproduct of testosterone, can shrink hair follicles, making it harder for new hair growth. Elevated DHT levels can cause significant hair loss in women, particularly during menopause or in conditions like PCOS.2
Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss
As we age, many hormonal changes can contribute to thinning hair that can progress to balding. Factors such as thyroid imbalances, fluctuating hormone levels, and elevated stress can all significantly influence hair health.
These hormonal shifts can affect the hair growth cycle, weakening hair follicles and accelerating hair loss. In particular, issues with thyroid hormones, menopause, or stress can play a major role in the rate at which we lose hair over time.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hair follicles becoming sensitive to androgens causes them to shut down, leading to hair thinning. This can be an effect of genetics, abnormally high levels of testosterone or a change in androgen sensitivity.2 These hormones all affect the hair growth cycle.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Hair may shed more during pregnancy and postpartum due to hormonal shifts, a condition known as telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium, a larger percentage of hairs transition from the growth stage to the resting and shedding stage. Usually, only about 10% of scalp hair is in this shedding phase, but with this condition, that number jumps to at least 30%.5
Menopause
Fluctuating hormone levels during menopause, specifically the decrease in estrogen and progesterone, are often responsible for hair thinning and shedding. These hormones play a vital role in maintaining healthy hair growth and thickness. This hormone imbalance can result in slower hair growth and reduced hair density for some women. 1
Thyroid Issues
Thyroid hormone conditions including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can result in hair loss due to the imbalance of thyroid hormones. This can result in widespread hair thinning across the entire scalp and generally thinner hair, not just in patches. Hair will typically regrow once the thyroid issue is resolved, but it may take time.6
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Male-pattern baldness in women is primarily caused by hormonal imbalances associated with perimenopause or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS often involves high androgen levels and insulin resistance, linking insulin resistance, testosterone, and female pattern hair loss. There may be a connection between insulin receptor resistance and sensitivity to androgens, especially if you have family history of hair loss.2
Birth Control and Hormone Therapy
A study found that there is a link between women who take birth control in the form of the oral contraceptive pill, and a type of hair loss called frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) which predominantly affects women. 7Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT),where you are prescribed estrogen, can also lead to hair loss; however, this is a temporary side effect. 8
Stress
Prolonged stress can elevate cortisol levels in the body (a steroid hormone that controls the body’s stress response). This disrupts hormonal balance and can contribute to hair thinning.9 Keeping cortisol levels low can have more of an effect on hair growth than you might think!
When to Seek Medical Help
While some hair loss is normal, especially during hormonal changes, hair thinning that is significant or sudden could indicate an underlying issue that needs medical attention.
Consult a doctor if you notice:
Persistent hair thinning over a long period of time, despite home or natural treatments.2
Sudden hair loss in patches or clumps.2
Other symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, or skin changes, which may suggest a thyroid issue or hormonal imbalance.2
A healthcare professional can run tests to determine what’s causing your hair loss and recommend the appropriate treatment for this type of hair loss. This could be hormone therapy or prescription medications.
What You Can Do If You’re Dealing With Hormonal Hair Loss
1. Hair Thinning Treatments
At Nioxin, we have a specialized products for hair thinning including shampoo, conditioner and treatments that cover early-stage hair thinning to more severe cases. For more insight into your hair concerns, use our expert consultation tool to get a personalized Nioxin regimen based on your needs.
2. Medication
When speaking with a doctor or specialist, they may suggest medication to treat hormonal hair loss. This may be a topical solution containing Minoxidil which is the only FDA-approved topical treatments for androgenetic alopecia. It works by stimulating hair follicles and encouraging growth. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can also be prescribed to balance hormones during menopause.1
3. Lifestyle Changes
It’s important to provide your body with the nutrients it needs for healthy hair growth. Foods rich in iron, fatty acids, vitamin D and folic acid can all support hair growth.1 Although exercise isn’t directly linked to hair growth, it can help to reduce stress and keeping yourself relaxed can have positive effects on the hormones that affect your hair.
4. Natural Remedies
Boosting blood circulation in your scalp can help maintain healthy hair follicles. Regular scalp massages can achieve this. Use your fingertips to gently massage your scalp in circular motions from forehead to nape, then gently knead and lift the scalp.2
Medical Procedures for Hormonal Hair Loss
There are several medical procedures that can help to stimulate hair growth:
Light treatment - Light therapy to stimulate hair follicles, encouraging thicker hair growth over time.10
Hair transplants - Hair follicles are transplanted from one area of your scalp to another, for a more permanent solution to hair thinning.10
Steroids – Steroid injections and creams can be prescribed and applied to bald patches and thinning areas on your scalp.10
Prevention Tips for Hormonal Hair Loss
While you can’t prevent hormonal changes, there are steps that can be taken to minimize their impact of this type of hair loss on your hair.
Prioritize Hormonal Health
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management can all help to support hormonal balance. Looking after your body from the outside, in, makes a big difference to the health of your hair.
Be Gentle with Your Hair
Avoid harsh chemical treatments, heat styling, or tight hairstyles that put stress on your hair and scalp as these may cause hair thinning. If your scalp is feeling sensitive, try out Nioxin scalp and dandruff products to help soothe and cleanse your scalp.
Eat a Nutrient-Rich Diet
Include foods high in iron, biotin, and vitamins like A, C, and E to your diet to strengthen your immune system which is necessary to maintain healthy hair. Consult your doctor if you think you’re deficient in some vitamins or minerals and they may recommend supplements.11
Hormonal hair loss is a common yet manageable issue for many people. With early detection, a tailored treatment plan, and preventive care, it’s possible to maintain healthy hair despite hormonal fluctuations.
If you're concerned about thinning hair, consult a healthcare professional to find the best course of action. Learn more about hair loss on our dedicated page about hair loss.
References:
Lloyds Pharmacy. The menopause and hair loss. https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/hair-loss-advice/menopause-hair-loss
Women’s Health Network. Can hormonal imbalance cause hair loss in women?. https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/hormonal-imbalance/hair-loss-in-women/#hormones
Harvard Health Publishing. Treating female pattern hair loss. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/treating-female-pattern-hair-loss
http://www.london-centre-trichology.co.uk/reasons-for-mens-hair-loss.asp
British Association of Dermatologists. Is my thyroid disorder causing my hair loss?. https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/telogen-effluvium/
British Thyroid Foundation. Is my thyroid disorder causing my hair loss?. https://www.btf-thyroid.org/hair-loss-and-thyroid-disorders#:~:text=Severe%20and%20prolonged%20hypothyroidism%20and,months%20and%20may%20be%20incomplete.
British Skin Foundation. NEW BSF funded research! Oral contraceptive use linked to hair loss. https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/news/new-bsf-funded-research-has-found-that-oral-contraceptive-use-linked-to-hair-loss
NHS. Side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
National Library of Medicine. Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432488/
NHS. Hair Loss. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss/
Harvard Health Publishing. Vitamins, Minerals, and Hair loss: Is there a connection? https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/vitamins-minerals-and-hair-loss-is-there-a-connection