How To Prevent Hair Loss Due To Hormonal Imbalance?

How To Prevent Hair Loss Due To Hormonal Imbalance?

Are you experiencing a recurring episode of acne breakout on your jawline? Has your hair lost the natural volume and shine it used to have? Or perhaps, are you observing hair growth in some parts of your face previously unseen?

Most likely, you have your hormones to blame. Your hormones primarily determine how your skin and hair look and function.

While several hormonal imbalances and changes are a normal part of the growth process, the after effects of these hormonal changes may be managed or aggravated depending on your lifestyle and diet.

Scroll down to know how your hormones impact your hair at different stages of your life and how you can prevent hair loss due to hormonal imbalance.

Which Hormones Are Responsible For Hair Loss?

To begin with, there are primarily five groups of hormones that may impact the texture, health, and volume of your hair. These hormones include:

1. Androgens

Also classified as male hormones (androstenedione, testosterone, DHT, DHEAS), androgens are present in smaller quantities in women and large quantities in men. The thinning hair pattern in men, and diffuse thinning of hair in women is associated with DHT (dihydrotestosterone) [1]. This could be due to a higher sensitivity to or high levels of DHT in men and women.

Apart from being responsible for hair thinning in both men and women, an increased amount of DHT also leads to the growth of excess facial hair.

2. Progesterone & Estrogen

Both female hormones are present in large quantities in women and smaller quantities in men. An elevated level of progesterone and estrogen, specifically during pregnancy, stimulate voluminous and thicker hair growth in women. Also, the high levels of these hormones help minimize the production of DHT.

Both these hormones start declining during menopause. Hence, this causes the onset of hair thinning and other issues in women.

3. Thyroid

Another important hormone that impacts the volume, texture, and health of hair is the thyroid hormone. Individuals with an overactive or underactive thyroid gland may experience problems like dry hair, brittle hair, hair loss, hair thinning, etc.

4. Stress Hormones

Stress hormones such as CRH and cortisol interfere with the hair cycle and lead to sudden episodes of hair thinning and hair loss. The best ways to manage this condition are by tweaking your lifestyle and diet.

5. IGF – 1 & Insulin

Both these hormones may also affect the normal cycle of hair growth and development. Several women with PCOS condition experience insulin resistance. This may in turn affect the texture and volume of their hair.

Nearly 75% of women may experience loss of hair due to androgenetic alopecia by the time they turn 65 years old [2].

What Does Hormonal Hair Loss Look Like?

women facing hormonal hair loss

Hormonal hair loss may give rise to different outcomes in men and women. In place of the receding hairline or horseshoe-shaped hair pattern prevalent among men, women with hormonal hair fall experience a diffused hair thinning pattern across their scalp.

When it comes to issues such as an oily scalp, hair loss, and hair thinning, an abnormal variance between the male and female hormones found in both men and women is to be blamed.

If the level of female hormones reduces in the human body, the receptors in the cells become more susceptible to the male hormones, causing hair related problems. These aberrations are usually observed in women who are taking contraceptive pills, experiencing polycystic ovaries, perimenopause, post pregnancy, or any other type of hormonal imbalance.

The above-mentioned hormonal imbalances not only adversely impact hair texture and volume on your scalp, but also affects facial hair. When any male hormone becomes aggravated and is found in large quantities in women, then they begin to experience hirsutism [3]. This condition is indicated by excessive hair growth on parts like cheeks, side locks, chin, and upper lip. This condition is prevalent in women with PCOS.

What Are The Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance?

Your hormones are an integral part of your overall health and wellness. This is why a wide range of symptoms may easily indicate a hormonal fluctuation or imbalance. These signs and symptoms will be based on which glands or hormones aren’t properly functioning.

Some of the common hormonal issues impacting both men and women may give rise to the following symptoms:

  • Pink or purple colored patches
  • Round-shaped face
  • Swollen face
  • Dry skin
  • Fine, brittle hair or thinning hair
  • Infertility
  • Blurred or impaired vision
  • Irritability, anxiety, or nervousness
  • Depression
  • Lower sex drive
  • Increased hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequent bowel movement or constipation
  • Heightened sensitivity to heat or cold
  • Continuous sweating
  • Palpitations
  • Swelling, stiffness, or pain in the joints
  • Stiffness, tenderness, and muscle aches
  • Muscle weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Sudden and unexplained weight loss
  • Weight gain

Does Hair Grow Back After Hormonal Imbalance?

Women usually experience hair loss and hair thinning after child birth or during their menopausal stage. Men may also experience hair loss with advancing age due to the changes or imbalances in the hormones.

It is important to note that hair loss and hair thinning due to hormonal imbalances and changes is temporary. However, it is not easy to foresee when your hair will start to grow back.

The good news about hair loss due to hormonal imbalance is that you may reverse the adverse effect by treating the hormonal imbalance. In most of the cases, thinning hair and hair loss is an after-effect of another underlying health condition. When the underlying condition is diagnosed and treated accordingly, you will notice your hair growing back naturally.

Important Note:

The causes of hair loss in women should be always diagnosed and treated on an individual level. Health issues arising due to hormonal imbalance such as lower levels of sex hormones, estrogen dominance, or PCOS can be corrected by tweaking your lifestyle and diet.

A knowledgeable physician or ayurvedic practitioner may suggest tests to evaluate your hormone levels and provide a personalized treatment plan.

How Do You Treat Hormonal Hair Loss?

woman before and after hormonal hairloss treatment

While a healthy lifestyle and diet plays an integral role in maintaining your hair growth rate and quality, your genes may also result in hair loss and hair thinning. There are a wide variety of hair growth products, both herbal and medicinal, as well as treatments that you may avail. Aided by a healthy diet, multivitamins, and a stress-free lifestyle, you can see the best results.

A. Ayurvedic Remedies

Knowing your unique prakriti can enable you to understand dosha imbalances and create a treatment plan accordingly. A few general tips and recommendations to ensure optimal hormonal levels and functions include:

  • An iron rich and high protein diet is suggested for arresting hair loss. It is recommended to include green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, and seasonal vegetables in your daily diet.
  • Opt for a mild, herbal shampoo to cleanse your scalp and hair. Shikakai (Acacia concinna) and amla (Emblica offcinalis) are two effective ayurvedic herbs for cleansing hair.
  • Regular oil massage of your scalp and hair is beneficial for preventing hair loss [4]. Try to apply coconut oil at least twice or thrice a week. A few ayurvedic medicated oils such as kanjunnyadi oil, kunthala kanthi oil, and neelibhringadi oil are beneficial for your hair health. Apply the oil onto your scalp, and gently massage the oil so that it penetrates the roots of your hair.
  • Try to maintain a specific time for your bowel movement everyday. If you experience irregular bowel movement, then use a mild laxative suggested by your ayurvedic practitioner. Triphala churna is an excellent ayurvedic ingredient.
  • To balance and pacify aggravated doshas, it is advised to do yoga and physical exercise on a regular basis.
  • Remember to gently massage and rub your scalp after shampooing your hair. This activity will stimulate the sebaceous glands and help improve blood circulation.
  • A combination of spinach and lettuce juice is beneficial for hair regrowth. Also, lettuce and carrot juice is a potent remedy for hair loss.
  • Apply the extract of green coriander leaves on your scalp and hair for promoting hair growth.
  • Cleanse your hair with a thick paste of methi (fenugreek) and boiled green gram at least twice a week.
  • Apply a paste of milk and licorice onto your bald patches for hair regrowth.
  • Soak some methi seeds in pure coconut oil and place it under direct sunlight for a week. Apply the herbal oil for arresting hair loss.
  • Traditional ayurvedic therapies such as nasya, thala pothichil, abhyangam, and dhara show good results in preventing hair loss.

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix says, “Amalaki rasayana is excellent for treating hormonal hair loss. All hormones according to Ayurveda are Pitta (metabolic fires, metaphorically). Amla is the best drug to balance it. A spoon of amalaki rasayana with warm water at bedtime, can help rejuvenate hair.”

Vedix Tip: Bringadi oil is a powerful mixture of bhringraj oil, balloon vines, sesame, indigo, and amla. The potent ayurvedic oil acts as an intensive hair rejuvenator by preventing premature greying, dandruff, scalp irritation, and hair loss.

Bringadi oil is clinically known to minimize hair fall and breakage by at least 94%.

B. Medical Treatments

1. PRP

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is based on the science of using your blood cells to reinitiate the restoration of damaged hair follicles [5]. This technique can also be aligned with hair channelising tools for swift and better results. This method acts as a fertilizer for hair regrowth.

PRP works best for individuals who have either male or female pattern of baldness than those who experience sudden hair loss due to high stress levels. Also, this method works effectively if an individual is in the the initial stages of hair fall as well as experiencing thinning hair in specific parts where hair follicles are actively working.

2. Micrograft Hair Treatment

This is a novel, advanced method which employs the use of stem cells derived from your hair and skin tissue grafts instead of your blood cells. The treatment yields better results for hair thinning and hair loss, which is observed within 4-6 weeks. The treatment involves grafting of skin tissues from the healthy section of your scalp to the affected region.

3. Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy involves the regulated supply of essential nutrients and vitamins into the affected hair follicles in your scalp. Specialized serums containing these vitamins and nutrients are used to promote hair growth and hair follicles. This medical treatment aids various other hair growth treatments such as oral vitamins and minoxidil.

4. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is an effective medicine which helps increase the blood circulation in the hair follicles, extending the hair turnover time, and increasing the hair follicular size. The medication also increases your hair thickness and volume as well as reduces hair loss. The downside is that it is only effective as long as you are using it. Hence, once you stop using the treatment, your hair loss and breakage will return if not regularly continued.

The Last Word

If you think your hormonal imbalance or changes are responsible for adversely impacting your hair quality, volume, and health, then identifying the affected hormones may help you to address the issue of your hair loss. You may seek the expert opinion of a distinguished trichologist or ayurvedic practitioner. It is imperative to seek medical or ayurvedic advice to address your hair loss to correctly diagnose and treat the underlying causes.

Apart from seeking professional help, you should try to manage your stress levels by practicing deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and pranayama. Try to sleep for at least a minimum of eight hours. By tweaking your diet and lifestyle, you will be able to prevent hair loss due to hormonal imbalance.

Know Your Dosha Now
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