Beauty Lifestyle

How Hormones Affect the Growth of Your Hair

Written by Medhaavi Mishra

For many of us, hair plays a significant role in who we are and how we show ourselves to others. As a result, thinning hair may be a highly problematic issue for many women since there is no fast treatment for regrowing hair.

As we become older, most of us have to cope with hair loss’s painful and undesired experience. Internal physiological changes are indicated by thinning and dry hair. There are several theories on why some people’s hair falls out as they get older, but the most common include hormonal imbalances and stress in this article, how hormones affect the growth of your hair, and how to stop it.

What Hormones Are Related to Hair Loss?

The endocrine glands produce hormones straight into the bloodstream, acting as chemical messengers. It is important to note that hormones play an essential part in several metabolic processes in the body. Hormonal imbalances may harm the body’s metabolic processes. Here are some hormones linked to hair loss in men and women.

Infertility Hormones

Menstruating women have high levels of these female sex hormones. Both estrogen and progesterone must be present in your body to grow long, thick hair, 

Hair loss can occur when these hormones are low, like menopause or postpartum. Low amounts of female sex hormones can cause hair loss.

Menstruation-inducing hormones

Androgens, which play a role in masculine traits such as body and facial hair, are found in more significant concentrations in males under normal circumstances.

Androgen levels in young women are typically relatively low. When the levels of female sex hormones diminish, androgens begin to influence the female body.

Hair follicles shrink when levels of the androgen DHT rise, resulting in hair loss and baldness. Male and female androgenic alopecia is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Hair loss in men often manifests as a pattern or bald patch; it appears as a more uniform thinning throughout the scalp in women.

The Thyroid Gland’s Hormonal Secretion

Thyroid hormones play a critical role in the overall control of your body’s metabolism. It’s no surprise that your hair is affected by changes in these hormones. In both men and women, severe high or low levels of these hormones cause thinning of the hair. Hair thinning and balding on the crowns of the heads is frequent in the elderly, as is thyroid dysfunction.

Prolactin

As a pregnant woman or a nursing mother, prolactin levels rise significantly. Several studies show that prolactin influences hair growth and hair loss. 

Long-term prolactin elevations may cause hair loss. Prolactin may also cause hair loss by promoting the synthesis of androgens.

Melatonin

At modest levels, hair follicles release this hormone into the epidermis. As an antioxidant, melatonin shields the hair follicles from free radical damage. Also, it controls and modulates hair loss by controlling the activities of other hormones, including estrogen and prolactin. Melatonin’s involvement in hair loss needs to be better understood, though.

Understanding Hormones And Hair Loss

Hair follicles are sac-like structures found in your skin that produce each hair follicle on your body. Helping to regenerate and grow new hair is a function of several cells in the hair follicles. Daily, 50-100 hair strands are lost and replaced by new ones.

When your hormones are out of balance, your hair follicles suffer. It also affects the hair cycle, resulting in increased hair loss and decreased growth.

Hormonal changes are regular at certain times throughout life. Changing food and lifestyle may typically reverse the effects of hormonal hair loss in some youngsters. However, your hair loss will only worsen with age, whether you suffer from male- or female-pattern baldness.

After delivery, some women have increased hair loss. Your hair cycle could affect your age, as some hormones drop and others rise. Hormonal imbalances can cause hair loss, thyroid issues, and PCOS.

How Do You Treat Hair Loss?

Hormonal imbalance may be the cause of long-term hair loss. These tips may help avoid hormonal hair loss.

  • The first thing you should do if you suspect hormone abnormalities are to blame for your hair loss is to see a doctor. Your doctor may recommend medication or hormone replacement therapy to treat the condition.
  • Reduce your level of tension. Stress can worsen your body’s hormonal imbalance, contributing to hair loss. There are several ways to deal with chronic stress, including yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, and counseling.
  • Getting enough sleep is just as important as eating a balanced diet. You should also obtain a good night’s sleep while you eat a healthy diet full of green vegetables and fruits. Sleep deprivation may lead to an increase in stress levels, which can cause hair loss.
  • If you suffer from significant hair loss, you should avoid applying heat or harsh chemicals to your hair. 
  • Your dermatologist can recommend non surgical hair transplant to reverse the consequences of hormonal hair loss.
  • Androgenic alopecia can benefit from the topical administration of Minoxidil.
  • Mesotherapy is another treatment option for hair regeneration. Nutrition and vitamins are injected directly into the scalp to encourage hair growth.

How Do You Treat Hormonal Hair Loss?

Hormonal hair loss is frequently treatable. Treating the underlying illness, such as hyperthyroidism, will stop hair loss and result in new hair development.

Menopausal women can benefit from hormone replacement therapy or topical use of drugs like Minoxidil, although the effectiveness of these therapies diminishes with age.

If you have hereditary hair loss, you will have a more difficult time getting your hair to regrow.

Conclusion

Hormones regulate multiple metabolic processes in the body. As a result, fluctuations in hormone levels can impact both hair growth and hair loss. In addition to reducing hair loss, early identification of hormone abnormalities may save you from future health concerns.

To keep your hormones in check, follow a healthy lifestyle that includes frequent exercise, a well-balanced diet, and little stress. Also, if you have any doubts that hormone issues cause abrupt or persistent hair loss, see a doctor right once. In this article, we have talked about how hormones affect the growth of your hair; you have got the answer you want. 

About the author

Medhaavi Mishra