
Hair loss may be very irritating for women. It influences confidence and self-image. However, not all women know the role of hormones in female hair loss, in its growth, or in the loss of hair. We shall discuss the process behind the loss of female hair due to hormonal imbalances and what medication can be used to restore healthy and thick hair.
Understand the Hair Growth Cycle
We must learn about the growth of hair to appreciate the effects of hormones on it. Every strand passes through three phases:
Anagen (Growth Phase)
This is the active growth phase of hair that lasts between 2 and 6 years.
Catagen (Transition Phase)
The growth stops, and the follicle becomes smaller.
Telogen (Resting Phase)
The old hair falls out, and the new hair starts growing.
The hormonal balance may be altered when hormones change. The result is that the hair then gets thinner, weaker, and can also stop growing.
The Role of Hormones in Female Hair Loss
There are a number of hormones that affect the health of hair and cause of female hair loss. Even a minor imbalance can be the cause of prominent thinning of hair.
Estrogen
Estrogen also keeps the hair long, shiny, and healthy. When one is pregnant, estrogen increases, and this tends to make hair appear fuller. The levels, however, decrease after childbirth or menopause. This acute transition may lead to excessive loss referred to as telogen effluvium.
Androgens
Hair follicles may be shrunk by androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). An increase in DHT levels will reduce the period of growth of the hair and generate finer strands. This is referred to as female pattern baldness, and in most cases, it targets the top and the crown of the head.
Thyroid Hormones
Hair may fall off in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. These hormones regulate metabolism, and in their imbalance, the hair growth rates slow down.
Progesterone
Progesterone helps in the prevention of DHT. With a decrease in its levels, DHT has the opportunity to grow and strike hair follicles more rapidly, causing thinning to be visible.
General Hormonal Changes in Women
Hormonal loss of hair does not occur in one day. It is typically caused by life changes or illnesses that affect the hormone levels.
- Postpartum Changes: The concentrations of estrogen plummet suddenly after delivery. In some cases, a large number of women lose their hair a number of months after giving birth.
- Menopause: A reduction of estrogen and progesterone can result in thin and weak hair.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Women affected by PCOS experience loss of scalp hair and unnecessary hair and hair on the face because of high androgen levels.
- Thyroid Disorders: Underactive and overactive thyroid glands influence the growth cycle of hair.
- Stress: constant stress increases cortisol, which upsets the balance of hormones and initiates hair loss.
How to Diagnose Hormonal Hair Loss?
Hormonal hair loss may have various symptoms, though these are some of the symptoms:
- Increasing the loss at the top or crown area.
- Hair widens part lines.
- Shedding of excess hair following brushing or washing.
- Sudden weight gain or irregular menstrual cycles.
Hormone Balancing Hair Loss Treatments in Islamabad
A hormonal imbalance should be reversed to avoid or at least postpone the hair loss. Based on the cause, doctors may either prescribe thyroid medication, hormonal treatment, or lifestyle changes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
PRP treatment combines growth factors in your body to activate the dead hair follicle. It helps to improve the circulation, strengthen roots, and stimulate the growth of new hairs.
Exosome Therapy
Exosome therapy is a new regenerative hair treatment. Exosomes are made of stem cells and loaded with growth factors, proteins that heal and regenerate at a cellular level, unlike PRP, which uses your own blood.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Extreme cases are fixed with hair transplantation. Dr Naveed Azhar provides the follicular unit extraction (FUE) to achieve a natural-looking density with a limited number of downtimes.
Book Your Consultation Today!
Hormonal hair loss is irritating, yet you will not go through it by yourself. Book an appointment with Hair Transplant Islamabad. Allow Dr Naveed Azhar to find out the reason behind your loss of hair and develop a specific treatment plan that would ensure long-term results. It is time to begin the path to healthier and fuller hair!