Hair Loss & the Impact of Hormone Balance
Hormones & Hair Loss
This weeks class was all about how hormones impact your hair loss and hair growth.
There are many many factors which contribute to hair loss and slow regrowth. From low iron, low ferritin, low thyroid, zinc deficiency but also your hormones pla a considerable part.
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone all play an important role in regulating the different hair growth phases and keeping your hair shiny, long and healthy.
Watch The Video Lesson Here
Your hair goes through growth and loss phases. It’s important not only to identify the location of your hair loss but to identify if the issue is with poor to no re-growth or premature loss of hair.
Hair Growth Phases
Anagen
The anagen phase may last for about 2 to 8 years. This is the active growth phase. If this gets interrupted hair will shed and you may also have issues growing your hair long.
Catagen
The catagen phase lasts for 4 to 6 weeks. This is when the follicle begins to shrink down, and nutrients stop nourishing the hair follicle.
Telogen
The Telogen phase lasts for 2 to 3 months. This phase is the loss phase and is when most of the hair is shed.
If these phases are disrupted, you might experience more hair loss than hair growth, lack of hair length, no hair growth versus hair loss leading to baldness or excess baby hairs.
Types of Hair Loss
There are also many types of hair loss. To be able to treat hair loss it’s important to understand if its a hormone imbalance, stress or diet or in some cases a chronic illness like candida and Hashimotos.
Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL)
This is most commonly caused by excess androgens acting on the hair. This leads to hair thinning and eventual baldness. This is seen in the parietal or front vertical areas of the hairline.
Telogen Effluvium (TE)
TE is were the Telogen phase interrupted, and you might experience premature loss, excess shedding and minimal regrowth.
Immediate Anagen Release
Immediate anagen release can be within 2-3 months. This can be caused by stress, surgery, injury or illness.
Delayed Anagen Release
This happens all of a sudden after a long anagen phase. This occurs most commonly postpartum.
Short Anagen Syndrome
SAS is where hair can’t grow long. Something is shortening growth phase. Low Ferrin can cause this.
Three leading causes of hair loss in women:
Hypothyroid
Low Serum Iron levels
Stress
Low Thyroid / Hypothyroidism
Low thyroid or hypothyroid issues cause the shrinking phase to be premature. This is the Catagen phase; this causes fewer nutrients to get to the hair via the root. This causes nutrient loss and the follicle shrinks, dries up, and your hair gets knotty. And when it regrows the hair can be thin and brittle.
Low Iron or Low Ferritin
Iron levels have a huge influence. Studies suggest that if your serum iron under 70 ng/mL that’s equivalent to 14 umol/L the anagen phase will be disrupted which causes slow regrowth and problems growing longer hair.
If your ferritin is below 40 ng/mL (90 pmol/L) Telogen phase will lengthen which means more hair loss. This causes hair thinning, and you might experience those baby hairs at the front of your hairline.
Stress
Stress, for example, causes hair loss 2 -3 months after a stressful incidence, operation or injury you might then experience sudden hair loss. This is because stress interrupts the growth phase, but your hair will grow back creating that uneven baby hair and eventual long thick hair.
Hormones and Hair Loss
Hormones have a massive impact on hair quality. This can even been seen through the menstrual cycle. When your oestrogen levels are high mid cycle your hair might feel soft, thick and shiny. Then as your period approaches your hair might because straw-like, frizzle and even more greasy or dry.
Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL)
The growth phase (anagen) is generally between 2-8 years. In Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) the anagen phase is shortened, causing premature hair loss. Plus the telogen phase (loss phase) is lengthened. Ultimately over time, this leads to hair thinning and even balding.
In most cases of Female pattern hair loss (FPHL), the thinning will be at the front hairline, and the parting will get wider.
PCOS and Hair Loss
Aromatase: An enzyme involved in the production of estrogen that acts by catalysing the conversion of testosterone (an androgen) to estradiol (an estrogen) gets inhibited. Women have more aromatase on the scalp. This causes hair thinning an at the frontal hairline. And may also contribute to grey hair in this area.
It is familiar with those PCOS to have thyroid issues which also contribute to hair loss, this makes it essential to treat all areas.
Pregnancy
A good level of estrogen supports thick, shiny hair. That’s why pregnancy brings great hair quality. Estrogen lengthens the anagen phase, so you get less hair loss and longer locks.
But this also means postpartum most women experience sudden hair loss due to him to drop in the sex hormones. This is caused by a delayed anagen release.
Estrogen / Progesterone Ratio
It’s all about the delicate balance. If you have low progesterone but elevated Estrone, then you may get more hair loss. This is because progesterone stimulates the anagen phase and too much estrogen inhibits this.
Estrogen Resistance
This is another issue that can cause more hair loss then regrowth. You might have the right amount of estrogen but due to toxins, BPA, Insulin, Cortisol which block the receptor and trigger the anagen phase.
High Cortisol to Low Progesterone
This happens in acute and chronic stress. This causes the hormone aldosterone to increase which causes sodium retention. This sodium can pool around the hair follicles blocking vital nutrients for hair growth. This can cause hair loss within 2 months of the stressful event.
What to ask yourself?
Length of your hair / does it grow
Quality of your hair is it straw-like, brittle, dry
Colour and curl of hair
Location of hair loss is it all over and diffuse which is familiar with low thyroid or just above the temple and parting which is common in androgen dominance and PCOS.
Does it accompany dry scalp or psoriasis
Or is it autoimmune and looks like circular balding
Simple nutrients to support your hair growth and prevent loss
Knowing what levels your nutrients are is important particularly if you want to supplement. You don’t want to take Iron supplementation if your iron levels are high.
But you can look out for signs such as restless leg syndrome, anxiety, depression or even heavy painful periods.
Below are the key nutrients when it comes to healthy hair growth.
Iron
Only take iron after a blood test which indicates low Serum iron or low Ferritin. You can also get your green leafy greens to add lemon to them to support absorption or take an excellent quality desiccated liver capsule for natural, safe iron and B vitamins.
Zinc
Studies show that 50mg Zinc gluconate can support hair growth and prevent loss. You can test your Zinc levels through a blood test or hair mineral analysis. Keeping the right balance of Zinc to copper ratio is important.
Essential Fatty acid and Omega 3
Low essential fatty acids will cause straw-like hair, brittle hair and your hair may lighten over time. Take a good quality cod liver oil supplement or Omega 3 will support shiny, healthy hair. Vegans can take Borage oil, hemp seed oil and algae supplements.
Biotin
Biotin only works if you are low in biotin. Studies show that 1mg daily, when given to biotin deficient patients, causes hair growth. Biotin supports fatty acid absorption. Low Biotin will give you hair thinning along with dry hair and psoriasis on the scalp.
Vitamin D
This is an important nutrient to support hair growth. Usually, vitamin D levels are low after the winter months. This can cause a mass shedding in springtime.
Apple cider vinegar and digestive enzymes also support the absorption of nutrients to promote hair growth.
Topicals
Topical onion juice applied twice daily has been shown to increase growth. Other topical applications shown to work are Arginine, Panax Ginseng and Rosemary.
Rosemary has only been shown to work in androgen hair loss as it blocks DHT. You could make up a cream with coconut oil and rosemary essential oil and apply daily.
Lasers like this one have also been shown to work well, they are expensive but can increase hair growth threefold.
Summary
Zinc to support hair growth
Liver capsules for natural iron and B vitamins
HCL or apple cider vinegar to support healthy stomach acid and mineral absorption
Laser hair treatment daily along with nutrients
Vitamin D especially after winter shedding