Will Hormone Therapy Help With Hair Loss
Asked by: Dr. Murray Schneider MD
Although it’s generally only prescribed as a last resort for menopausal symptoms, hormone replacement therapy is a common and very effective hair loss treatment for some women as long as they are menopausal or post-menopausal and are not at higher risk for adverse effects from HRT.
How Do I Know If My Hair Loss Is Due To Menopause
There are many types and causes of female hair loss. Pregnancy and other medical conditions, for example, can result in Telogen Effluvium a loss of hair in patches that often grow back.
Androgenetic Alopecia also called Female Pattern Hair Loss causes hair follicles to shrink. This results in hair falling out faster and growing back wispier, with fewer follicles per inch of scalp. Female Pattern Baldness is the most common cause of female hair loss and is caused by a combination of heredity and hormones.
Female hair loss due to the hormonal changes of menopause tend to be subtler and more gradual than the balding that males experience. Menopausal women will typically undergo overall hair thinning rather than distinct patches or bald spots.
Hair thinning due to menopause can occur on the front, sides, top or all over the head. Women will often notice hair falling out in clumps when brushing or washing their hair if the hair loss is due to menopause.
Womens Hormone Therapy For Hair Loss Scottsdale Az: 480
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a cure for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone therapy may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.
Recommended Reading: Where Can I Buy Liquid Melatonin
Menopausal Hair Loss: Is It Reversible
Menopause is a time of extreme hormonal changes that typically occurs around the late 40s and early 50s. After menopause, many different physical symptoms can appear, including menopausal hair loss. These symptoms can also include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.
Many people want to know if hormonal hair loss can be reversed. The answer is yes! Fortunately, unlike genetic hair loss, most hair loss caused by hormonal imbalances is reversible.
Read Also: Why Does Estrogen Cause Breast Cancer
How Does Androgenetic Alopecia Start
Hair loss happens in androgenetic alopecia because, in genetically susceptible individuals, dihydrotestosterone causes hair follicles to become narrower in diameter, shorter in length and lighter in color. It is far more common in men than women and begins earlier in life for men. While there is no cure for androgenetic alopecia, treatments to slow or block the production of DHT can help slow the progression of hair loss, but hair loss will continue if treatment is suspended. One of those treatments, finasteride, can also have side effects such as decreased libido or erectile dysfunction in men.
Recommended Reading: How To Balance Your Estrogen Levels
Hrt Pellets And Unwanted Hair Loss
There is growing research to suggest that the one-size-fits-all amounts of testosterone in HRT pellets may lead to hair loss in some women. HRT pellets that are available in the market typically contain higher levels of testosterone that are known to cause hair loss in women who are sensitive to testosterone levels, thus resulting in unwanted hair loss.
How To Talk To Your Doctor About Compounding
We work with many doctors who understand the importance of compounding, and how to prescribe compounded medications. But if the doctor you see and with whom you have a great doctor-patient relationship is unfamiliar with our process, were happy to discuss compounding with him or her.
To make it easier to open up the conversation of compounding with your trusted doctor, weve created this webpage for doctors to understand the importance of custom-made compounds.
Also Check: Blood Test For Menopause Hormone Levels
Symptoms Of Hair Loss In Women
- Hair thinning: You may start to notice that your hair is thinner than usual. You see lots of hair after shampooing, in the shower, or on your brush.
- Hair loss: You may start to lose hair in clumps. Hair may also come out when you brush it or style it.
- Bald patches: You may develop bald patches on your scalp where there is little or no hair growth.
- Difficulty styling hair: Your hair may be harder to style than normal, due to a decrease in its thickness and volume.
Do Your Best To Opt For Gentle Hair Care
Try your best to stay away from tightly bound styles, like braids, buns, or ponytails, and resist twisting or rubbing your hair.
Gently wash or brush hair, switching to a wide-toothed comb if necessary to prevent too much pulling at the roots.
Hot rollers, curling or straightening irons, hot oil treatments, bleaching, and other chemical processes are other things to avoid.
Recommended Reading: Does Estrogen Cause Cancer To Grow
Implications Of Hormone Therapies In Hair Loss
Many authors, including those of this review, suggest authors hypothesize that hair loss in addition to acne and hirsutism are side effects attributable to the androgenic effect of progestogens . Additionally, some data have suggested an association between androgenic progestins and alopecia. A postmarketing surveillance study of Norplant, a levonorgestrel implant, noted statistically significant increased rates of alopecia in patients with the implant compared with controls . In another study aiming to assess the incidence of hair loss in women after insertion of a levonorgestrel IUD, the adverse effect of hair loss prompted some women to remove their device upon removal, some women experienced recovery of their hair loss, which suggests a causal association . This study was met by the severe limitations of reliance on physician reporting of hair loss and inadequate follow-up. In a Finnish study of almost 18,000 women, 15.7% of women with levonorgestrel IUDs reported hair loss . However, authors did not provide details that could support causality, such as timeline of insertion and removal of device, duration and severity of hair loss/growth, and other risk factors for alopecia.
Targeted Cancer Drugs And Immunotherapy
There are different types of targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapy that can cause hair problems to different degrees. Some of these drugs cause slower hair growth, hair thinning and dry, brittle hair. Some might cause complete hair loss. They can develop between several weeks to 2 to 3 months after starting treatment.
Instead of hair loss, some targeted cancer drugs cause growth of hair in unexpected areas of the body. For example, excessive hair on the face in women. Or some people might develop very long, curly eyelashes.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if your treatment is causing excessive hair growth. Ask about the safest way to remove unwanted hair. For example, you might need to carefully trim your eyelashes every few weeks to stop them irritating your eyes.
Recommended Reading: Are Testosterone Boosters Bad For Your Liver
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.
Whats Hair Loss In Women
Hair loss in women is just that when a woman experiences unexpected, heavy loss of hair. Generally, humans shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted when hair falls out and less hair grows in hair loss happens. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Light, fine, short hair is called vellus hair. Terminal/androgenic hair is thicker, darker and longer.
Read Also: Hormones In The Endocrine System
Can Hrt Cause Hair Loss
Sometimes HRT may cause hair loss depending on the type taken. Doctors will sometimes prescribe HRT with testosterone to help improve their patients libidos2. Unfortunately, testosterone can affect your hair follicles and cause androgenic alopecia. If your doctor has prescribed testosterone, you may want to consult them about HRT hair loss.
Some may take non-testosterone HRT but find their hair loss worsens. This can be due to many factors other than the HRT. If you are experiencing HRT hair loss but are not on testosterone, consult your doctor on other factors that could be causing hair loss.
Luckily, there have been links to HRT and hair regrowth, which may help if you suffer from hair loss related to menopause.
Robotic Hair Restoration For Trans Women
For trans women whose hair does not grow back after using hormone replacement therapy, a robotic hair transplant can be an ideal solution. As with any surgical treatment, the same criteria apply as usual. So long as the trans woman has good donor hair the FUE option can be viable.
The combination of transgender hormone replacement therapy and hair loss still requires study, but the number of trans women whose hair grows back after hormone replacement therapy is encouraging. For those who dont experience improved hair quality after starting HRT, a robotic hair transplant with ARTAS® is a viable option.
Dr. Baiju Gohil is a board-certified surgeon and expert in hair restoration using the ARTAS® system. His commitment to patient care and quality has become known as the RHRLI Edge, which also includes a personal consultation for each patient by Dr. Gohil himself. To learn more as to why RHRLI is Long Islands hair restoration leader, contact us today.
Don’t Miss: How To Control Hormonal Chin Acne
Hormone Replacement Therapy As A Hair Loss Treatment
Menopausal women may have another treatment option for their hair loss: hormone replacement therapy. Although controversial, these hormones available in estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches can help prevent hair loss as well as ease menopause symptoms.
When women experience thinning hair and balding on the scalp, they have a number of options.
Women may opt for a topical treatment like minoxidil or ketoconazole shampoo as their hair loss treatment.
But women who are menopausal, experiencing severe hot flashes, and are prescribed hormone replacement therapy for their menopausal symptoms may get a double-whammy benefit: HRT can be a good treatment for hair loss, as well.
About Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy involves taking female hormones, typically estrogen and progestin together. Women may get these hormones in varying forms, including estrogen and progesterone creams, pills, and patches.
HRT is most often prescribed to help women combat the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, including:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hot flashes and night sweats
Menopausal women may also take hormone replacement therapy to ward off osteoporosis, a bone-thinning condition that is common in women after menopause due to a drop in estrogen levels.
HRT and Hair Loss
Estrogen is related to hair growth and hair loss. During pregnancy, for example, a woman’s estrogen levels are higher than normal, which signals more hair follicles to “grow” and fewer to “rest.”
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.
Also Check: Will Low Estrogen Cause Weight Gain
Other Treatments For Menopausal Hair Loss
Topical medications can improve female hair growth but have several unpleasant side effects. Finasteride can result in decreased libido, breast tenderness, and excess hair growth in unwanted places. Minoxidil can cause unwanted facial and/or body hair, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, fainting, chest pain, swelling of the limbs, weight gain, tiredness, and difficulty breathing.
Depending upon the underlying cause of a menopausal womens hair loss, dietary supplementation can also help stop hair loss, and support hair regrowth. SottoPelle Hair Repair Supplementcan be used in combination with hormone replacement for even better results.
This revolutionary hair restoration supplement supplies essential nutrients to support healthy hair growth at the deepest cellular level, including Saw Palmetto to help keep the hair growth cycle intact, as well as d-Biotin, Zinc and Selenium to stimulate scalp health, inhibit further hair loss, and encourage new growth.
SottoPelle has been helping menopausal women restore hormone balance and reverse the symptoms of menopause for more than four decades. If you are suffering from hair loss or other symptoms of hormone decline, Advanced Hormone Solutions will take a thorough diagnostic approach and prescribe the most effective treatment to restore a thick and healthy head of hair.
For more info, contact Advanced Hormone Solutions today at 201-225-2525 or schedule a consultation at:
Also Check: What Is The Best Brand Of Melatonin
Menopause And Hair Loss Factsheet
Many women will experience concerns with their hair during or after the menopause. This can come as quite a shock and can be deeply worrying because hair is such an important aspect of self identity.Hair loss may not be obvious to anyone else at first, and convincing others that there is a problem can be a hurdle in itself. The signs may be an increasing loss of hair when brushing or in the shower, general thinning, the hair line moving backwards, and dry or brittle hair. The parting may widen, and more scalp may show through the hair, especially when the hair is wet. There can be anxiety with brushing or washing the hair, or even looking in the mirror. Stress from hair loss is worsened by not knowing whether the condition will deteriorate and whether HRT will help or not. It can be confusing trying to make sense of the sea of supplements and tonics on the internet or recommended by trichologists and hairdressers.
Also Check: What Doctor Can Test My Hormone Levels
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.
What Should I Do If My Hair Falls Out From The Root
Here’s our list of 20 solutions to help reduce or deal with hair loss.
Don’t Miss: Where Can I Get Estrogen Cream
Why Should You Seek Hormone Replacement Therapy At The Med Spot
There is no better place to provide Hormone Replacement Therapy for hair loss or any other beauty or wellness issue than The Med Spot. This five-star medical practice led by Dr. Michelle Reyes has built a loyal panel of patients on her reputation for optimizing health that you can both see and feel.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the gold standard option for healthy age management in patients with hormonal imbalances. As we age, everyone eventually encounters declining hormonal levels. There is no reason not to treat an issue that causes so much suffering when it can get corrected so easily.
The Med Spot for All Your Aesthetic Needs
The Med Spot treats critics, celebrities, stay-at-home moms, and more, from Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, and the greater San Fernando Valley anyone who wants to enhance their natural beauty from the inside out. Dr. Michelle Reyes combines her extensive training and clinical experience with the latest research and cutting-edge technology to give her clients the best possible results.
To learn more about Hormone Replacement for hair loss, contact The Med Spot to schedule a personal one-on-one consultation with Dr. Michelle Reyes. Let us introduce you to our brand of personalized luxury care and start you on your path to your best self.
Managing Hormonal Hair Loss
Taking HRT is a decision to make with your doctor, and you may find that HRT is not right for you. Below are other methods of managing hair loss while going through menopause.
- Use Toppik Hair Building Fibers Experiencing hair loss can have a major impact on self-esteem, but luckily hair fibers can help conceal! Toppik Hair Building Fibers are made with premium, naturally derived keratin proteins almost identical to human hair. They blend with existing hair strands, instantly concealing hair loss and making hair look thick and full.
- Stress Management Stress is a common symptom of menopause, and has been linked to hair loss in women4. Stress management techniques can help low impact exercise, a balanced diet, dedication to improving sleep quality, and meditation can help temper anxiety and stress.
- Practice Hair Protecting Techniques Stopping hair loss entirely can be tricky, but there are things you can do to protect against further hair loss. Avoid tight hairstyles, heat tools, and anything that puts mechanical stress on your hair. Also, try using silk or satin pillowcases and hair accessories.
- Talk to your Doctor If HRT is not for you, your doctor may be able to prescribe other hair loss prevention and menopausal management medication.
What is your experience with HRT and hair loss? Do you have tips for managing menopausal hair loss? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Read Also: What Are The Best Estrogen Pills To Take