Losing hair can be an unsettling, distressing experience. There could be many reasons your hair is falling out, from lifestyle habits to uncontrollable genetic factors, but one common cause usually goes unnoticed: hormonal imbalances. What is hormonal hair loss, and are there effective solutions?
At Vibrant Dermatology, we believe that empowering you with knowledge will help you find the best solutions. If you have a hormonal imbalance, you could benefit from our effective thinning-hair treatments.
Hormonal hair loss is a clinical term used when hormonal imbalances in your body lead to noticeable shedding or thinning of hair. Your hormones play an important role in many of your bodily functions — in everything from regulating your metabolism to your mood — so hair growth is no exception!
Hair follicles are the tiny structures in your skin that hold the roots of your hair. Androgens are a group of hormones that have a direct impact on hair follicles. These hormones can alter the shape, size, and life span of the follicles.
When hormones like androgens are imbalanced, hair thinning or loss is a common symptom. Some medical conditions associated with hair loss due to hormonal changes include:
Each of these conditions has different causes and symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to understand what type of hormonal hair loss you’re experiencing before you can find the right hair-thinning solutions.
You have many hormones in your body, with some influencing your hair health more strongly than others. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone both men and women produce, and it’s usually at the center of hormonal hair loss issues. When your body has too much DHT, your hair follicles can experience a shortened growth phase, which results in thinner, weaker hair strands that are more prone to falling out.
The thyroid is another key player in hair health. A small, butterfly-shaped organ found at the bottom of the neck, the thyroid produces various hormones that regulate these body functions and more:
If your thyroid is too active, you have a condition called hyperthyroidism. When it’s underactive, the condition is called hypothyroidism. Both conditions can disrupt your natural hair growth cycle, leading to noticeable hair loss.
Women’s hormones fluctuate naturally during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause. During these times, hormones like progesterone and estrogen fluctuate significantly, which can cause either temporary or long-lasting thinning of the hair.
In most cases, treating hormonal hair loss involves a multistep approach since the central goal is restoring hormonal balance. We may use a variety of methods during your treatment, including hormone therapy, medications, lifestyle adjustments, and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
Hormone therapy is a particularly effective treatment, especially for women who are experiencing hormonal hair loss due to postpartum or menopause-related changes. The treatment plan will likely include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is designed to balance hormonal levels to reduce hair loss and promote new hair growth.
HRT is a carefully monitored approach that may not be suitable for everyone. During your consultation, we will perform comprehensive testing and an in-depth assessment of your medical history and symptoms so that we can determine whether hormone therapy is the right hormonal hair loss treatment for you.
Numerous FDA-approved medications show significant promise in treating hormonal hair loss. Some of these medications work by blocking the production of DHT in order to reduce the impact DHT has on hair follicles.
The hair-thinning treatments we recommend should be complemented by lifestyle adjustments, such as:
Exercising will increase blood flow to the scalp, which can help stimulate hair growth. Regular exercise also plays an important role in keeping your hormones balanced.
Eating a balanced diet is also important for healthy hormones. By consuming nutrient-rich foods, you’re providing your body with the fuel it needs to function optimally.
When your body is stressed, it releases the hormone cortisol. Cortisol can have negative effects on your body, such as throwing your hormones out of balance or causing you to retain weight. By working on effective stress management methods, you can reduce the risk of cortisol impeding your hair growth efforts.
Perhaps one of the most effective solutions is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which uses the healing power of your own body to encourage new hair growth. This therapy involves drawing a small amount of your blood and placing it into a centrifuge to separate the plasma from other components.
We then extract the PRP and inject it into targeted areas of the scalp. The platelets within the plasma are blood cells that aid in tissue healing and cell regeneration. When we inject PRP into the scalp, these platelets help stimulate hair growth by prolonging the growth phase of the hair cycle. PRP therapy usually works in tandem with other elements of your treatment plan, such as supplements and medications.
If you’re noticing significant hair shedding or thinning, it’s important to find out the cause and treat it as soon as possible. The earlier you see a dermatologist to identify the causes of your hair loss, the sooner you can move forward with a treatment plan. If your hair loss is caused by a hormonal imbalance, you will need guidance and support from professionals like ours at Vibrant Dermatology to get your body back on track.
Contact us today to request an appointment and learn more about our hair-thinning solutions.