Menopause And Hair Loss: Whats The Connection
When entering the years of menopausal transition, it is a good idea to check the bodys hormone levels. This can help explain symptoms such as hair loss.
When a person experiences hair loss and other symptoms of menopause, it is predominantly due to hormonal changes. With age, the ovaries begin to decrease the amount of sex hormones that are normally produced. As the body responds to the fluctuations in hormones, numerous physical changes occur. Menopausal hair loss is directly related to the decreased production of estrogen and progesterone.
As these hormone levels drop, hair may begin to grow more slowly and become thinner. Over time, the decrease in estrogen and progesterone causes an increase in the activity of male hormones that the body makes. Androgens cause the hair follicles on the head to shrink, which leads to hair loss. These are the same hormones that are responsible for increased facial hair growth in menopausal people.
Among other factors that contribute to hair loss are lack of nutrients, stress, and illness. A health care provider may suggest tests for basic blood count, thyroid function, or hormone levels to identify the cause of hair loss.
How Common Is Female Hair Loss
Just like male hair loss, female hair loss becomes more common with age. Studies show that only 12% of women between the ages of 20 and 29 show some degree of hair loss, from loss around the hairline or temples to diffuse, overall thinning.
On the other hand, women aged 80 and up have a more than 60% chance of experiencing some degree of hormonal hair loss. Because hormonal hair loss is partly caused by a genetic sensitivity to DHT, your risk of hair loss could be higher if your mother, siblings or other female relatives have hair loss.
If youre concerned about hair loss, its important to take action quickly. Because hair loss is gradual and affected by DHT, acting quickly allows you to minimize hair loss and maintain as much of your hair as possible.
Surprising Signs And Symptoms Of Hormone Imbalance
Did you know the human body contains almost 50 different hormones? Some hormones that may be familiar include estrogen, insulin and cortisol. However, there are lesser-known hormones such as prostaglandins, which aids tissue repair. All these hormones together regulate many parts of the body, including reproduction, growth and mood. While some symptoms of a hormone imbalance are well-known, there are some signs that may surprise you. Keep reading to learn more about some surprising hormonal symptoms.
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Which Hormone Increases Hair Growth
Androgens, which include a reasonable amount of testosterone, are responsible for stimulating hair growth on the face, body, and head. Women also have adrenal glands, but the androgen produced is of a very small amount. It is important to understand that moth male and female hormones are responsible for hair growth.
Can Hormonal Hair Loss Be Reversed
Hormonal hair loss can be difficult to detect, but once diagnosed, you can work towards ways that can help in reversing this condition.
Hormonal hair loss is reversible, but, you need to ensure that you closely work with your dermatologist, so as to understand the root cause well and to take necessary steps to balance-out your hormonal levels. Along with the cosmetic treatments, suggested by the doctor.
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Other Causes For Hair Loss
Hormones may be the most common cause of hair loss, but they arent the only reason. You may notice changes in your hair from autoimmune issues, dermatitis, and other conditions. If your hair loss seems excessive or continues to be a problem, make sure to speak to your provider. He or she can help you find the root cause of the issue.
What Role Does Hormone Replacement Treatment Play In Hair Thinning During Menopause
Hormone replacement treatment during menopause may help with thinning hair if its related to hormone changes. Our provider may prescribe estrogen replacement therapy to help bring your hormones back into balance and back up to healthy baseline levels if you have low estrogen during menopause. This may help your hair in a few ways.
First, as we learned, estrogen plays a significant role during hair growth. Increasing estrogen levels during hormone replacement treatment may help your hair stay in the growing phase for longer than it would without hormone injections. It can also help your body keep testosterone levels in balance to help reduce the shrinking effects testosterone can have on hair follicles. In addition, some studies show that if you start hormone imbalance treatment early on for menopause symptoms, it may help you maintain your current hair density. This can help you reduce how much hair you lose throughout the course of menopause.
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Can A Better Diet Slow Down Hair Loss
Itâs understandable to want more affordable and simple solutions to stave off hair loss. While a good diet wonât do much against the onset of a genetic predisposition toward male pattern baldness, you can certainly make the impact less severe.
A balanced diet is essential to keep your bodily functions running smoothly. Missing out on your leafy greens or failing to hydrate adequately will do more than affect your hair growth: youâll affect your sleep patterns, mood, and bo wel movements. Foods associated with healthy hair are beans and fatty fish like salmon. You should also eat deep green vegetables like:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Broccoli
âIf you donât qualify for testosterone replacement therapy, you may wish to explore natural ways to raise testosterone. Unfortunately, proven natural testosterone boosters are few and far between, says Dr. Diamandis, although there are lifestyle practices you can adopt that will bring benefits whether youâre low on testosterone or not.â
A healthy head of hair needs plenty of biotin and omega-3 fatty acids. Itâs not just your follicles youâre taking care of, but the natural layer of oil on your scalp.
Despite how it may appear, you have options when it comes to addressing and reversing male pattern baldness.
How Is A Hormonal Imbalance Diagnosed
First, make an appointment with a health care provider for a physical exam. The health care provider will ask about your symptoms. Then, depending on your symptoms, they will suggest which hormone imbalance tests to do. These could be evaluations like:
- Blood test: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroxine, TTH, insulin, and cortisol levels can be detected in the blood.
- Pelvic exam: A health care provider will search for any lumps or cysts.
- Ultrasound: Images of your uterus, ovaries, thyroid, and pituitary gland can be obtained.
- Biopsy
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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.
How Can Hair Loss Be Treated
Youve heard the ads and infomercials touting the latest scheme for regrowing hair and ending thinning. Heres the reality. Lets walk through the available options.
- Minoxidil Minoxidil is the only over-the-counter medication for hair loss approved by the FDA for use by both men and women. It wont return hair to areas it has left, but it will slow hair loss. Brand names are Rogaine and Theroxidil. These products, and the generic form, work for about two thirds of men and women. They are most effective when the patient is under age 40 and has just begun to lose his or her hair.
- A Prescription strength pill is also available but it is used for blood pressure.
- Finasteride Finasteride is a prescription oral tablet used to treat male pattern hair loss. Brand name is Propecia. Also prescribed to treat an enlarged prostate, finasteride works by decreasing the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone in your body. DHT normally causes the prostate gland to grow larger, but the decrease also leads to increased hair growth and decreased hair loss. Finasteride doesnt affect hair growth on other parts of the body.
- Anti-Androgen Therapy Androgens include testosterone and other male hormones. These can accelerate hair loss in women. Some women who dont respond to minoxidil may benefit from the addition of the anti-androgen drug spironolactone for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as female pattern hair loss.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Hormone Imbalance
When you think of hormone imbalance, what do you think are common symptoms? For most, its menopause or erectile dysfunction. While these are two common symptoms, there are many more that may affect the entire body. Men and women may have similar symptoms, though there are some that are specific to each gender. The most common symptoms for men include:
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Discomfort during intercourse
Endocrine and reproductive conditions are usually caused by imbalanced hormones. Some of the most common endocrine conditions include PCOS, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushings disease and more. However, there are also some lesser-known symptoms that people may not consider signs of hormonal imbalance. These can include hair loss, cold extremities, trouble sleeping, depression or anxiety and skin conditions.
Male Sex Hormones And Hirsutism In Women
The female sex hormone oestrogen makes body hair fine and soft. Androgens are male sex hormones, including testosterone, which are responsible for masculine characteristics such as facial hair and coarse body hair. A womans ovaries and adrenal glands naturally make a small amount of androgens.
In most cases, hirsutism in women is thought to be caused by an abnormally high level of androgens. Other masculine features such as a deepened voice and increased muscle mass may also develop, and menstrual periods may cease . In other cases, womens androgen levels are normal, but their hair follicles are overly sensitive to the effects of male sex hormones.
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Hair Restoration Doctor In Seattle Tacoma And Spokane
Hair loss of any kind is fixable. If you suspect that you have a hormone imbalance, or if you are noticing much more hair loss than usual, seek the advice of an experienced hair restoration doctor. If either hormonal imbalance or stress is causing noticeable hair loss, there are treatments that can stem the tide and restore your hair to its more youthful appearance.
To schedule a consultation with hair specialist Dr. Robert Niedbalski, contact Northwest Hair Restoration today by calling us at 572-2949 or use our convenient and confidential online appointment request form. We look forward to seeing you and helping you get your hair back again.
Hair Loss Due To Hormones: Will It Grow Back
Hair loss due to hormones is a reality for many people after menopause as well as during pregnancy. But will it grow back? The answer is yes, but there are also things that can help the body along.
Wash hair regularly with a mild shampoo. Treat hair gently. Dont comb or brush hair when its wet. Using the fingers to detangle is a gentler option. Putting hair up in a tight bun or ponytail can cause added stress on the hair and its follicles.
Finally, try to limit the use of hair dryers or irons on hair, as they can dry and damage it.
Here are five tips to prevent hair loss during the menopausal transition and after menopause:
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Can Dht Cause Mbp
The short answer: yes. High levels of DHT have long since been connected to male pattern baldness and is found to be mostly genetic, to boot. If you have family members with premature bald spots, itâs more than likely this is the cause of your problem.
Common signs of male pattern baldness show a gradual shrinking from the hairline. The classic âbald spotâ is a surefire sign genetics are working their magic and shrinking down follicle growth to a trickle. The reason DHT can cause both hair growth and hair loss depends on its quantity and how commonly it travels throughout the bloodstream.
While you may be tempted to try hair loss shampoos at your local grocery store, theyâre not always adequate due to the unique nature of hormonal imbalances. Sometimes this tricky hormone can reach areas itâs not meant to, such as your hair follicles, and shrink them down until theyâre no longer producing the hair you want.
What Is Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common problem these days and no single factor can be attributed to it. Hair loss afflicts millions of peopleand not just men, though their hair loss is often the most noticeable. Most women, too, experience some degree of hair loss as they grow older. The causes of hair loss are several and vary from person to person. Creative Image Laser Solutions in Brownwood, Texas will help get your hair, and confidence back. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for hair loss treatments.
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Natural Remedies And Supplements
There are many nutritional supplements on the market that claim to treat menopause and hormone imbalance. However, few of them are backed up by scientific evidence.
Many of these supplements contain plant-derived hormones. These are sometimes called bioidentical hormones because they chemically resemble the bodys natural hormones. Theres no evidence to suggest that they work better than regular hormone therapy, though.
Some people find that yoga helps treat symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Yoga is excellent for your strength, flexibility, and balance. It may also aid in weight loss, which can help regulate your hormones.
You can also make the following lifestyle changes:
- Lose weight. A
The primary cause of acne is excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores. Acne is most common in areas with many oil glands, including the:
- face
- upper back
- shoulders
Acne is often associated with pubescent hormonal changes, but theres actually a lifelong relationship between acne and hormones.
Reversing Hair Loss With East West Medicine
The great news about hormonal hair loss is that it can often be reversed by correcting the hormone imbalance. Since hair loss or thinning hair is a side effect of another underlying condition, once you heal the underlying condition, your hair should begin to regrow naturally.
Of course, there are ways that we can help this process along, and a few things you can remedy at home to both balance your hormones and reverse hair loss.
Natural Hair Growth
Lush Locks works to replenish hair nutrients, control inflammation that impairs follicle function, and support healthy keratin production within the interior hair shaft itself.
This powerful support for healthy hair growth is packed with biotin, Ayurvedic botanicals, and nourishing amino acids.
Lush Locks also contains B vitamins and magnesium which promote the metabolism of amino acids , healthy thyroid function, and DNA production and repair. B6, folate, B12, and iron support the health and production of red blood cells, which deliver nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles.
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Low Estrogen And Hair Loss
Whilst elevated estrogen levels during pregnancy encourage hair growth, decreased estrogen levels in the body may contribute to hair loss.
This is most noticeable during menopause, when estrogen levels tend to drop and the hair follicles fall under the influence of the male hormone testosterone, shortening the growth phase.
The subsequent hair loss is usually gradual, but noticeable.
Hair loss caused by fluctuating estrogen levels tends to be diffuse , or may cause a wider part. It does not tend to cause patchy hair loss or baldness.
You may also notice hair loss if youre taking supplementary estrogen, then stop.
Case in point are women who come off birth control, only to find that their hair begins to shed at a rapid rate. This tends to be temporary, however, and usually corrects itself when the body rediscovers its hormonal balance.
The link between estrogen and hair loss can also be seen in women treated for cancer, when the ovarian function is destroyed, or in menopausal women whose ovaries are removed.
In either case, the bodys estrogen levels will drop significantly .
If no supplemental hormones are offered, the menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, skin thinning and hair loss will result.
And as we mentioned earlier the sudden drop in estrogen levels following pregnancy can trigger hair loss, although its usually the excess hair that was gained in pregnancy thats falling out, and the hair isnt actually any thinner than it was in pre-pregnancy days.
Hormonal Imbalance And Weight Gain
Hormones play an integral role in metabolism and your bodys ability to use energy. Hormone disorders, such as Cushing syndrome, can cause you to become overweight or develop obesity.
People with Cushing syndrome have high levels of cortisol in their blood. This leads to an increase in appetite and fat storage.
Hypothyroidism, if the condition is severe, can also lead to weight gain.
During menopause, many women gain weight because the metabolism slows down. You may find that even though youre eating and exercising like normal, you still gain weight.
The only way to treat weight gain from a hormone disorder is to treat the underlying condition.
During a normal, healthy pregnancy, your body goes through major hormonal changes. This is different than a hormonal imbalance.
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