Your Hair and Your Hormones; What is the Connection?

Recently I was speaking with my hairdresser and the topic of hair and the impact of life-events on its luster, texture, thickness, and color came up. He confided in me that the impact of hormonal fluctuations is so great that he often knows when/if his clients are pregnant long before they're prepared to share the news and sometimes even before they themselves know. But it's not just the strong hormonal changes that come with pregnancy that have an impact on your hair; have you ever noticed that a prolonged period of stress results in hair loss for you? If you're struggling with other hormonal imbalances you may have also noticed the unpleasant common symptom of dandruff or an itchy scalp. So, what is the connection?

As you might imagine hormones both stimulate hair growth and hair loss. Understanding the interplay between your hormonal balance and your diet can help prevent the most distressing aspects of hair loss. Female hair loss is caused by the combination of the presence of an abundance of the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and having hair follicles that have more androgen receptors for DHT. While there is a genetic component to this issue, you have the ability to do a lot to support your body's ability to process hormones efficiently. Hair follicles are very responsive to hormonal changes and imbalances in the body. The good news is that most hair loss is temporary and resolves itself after the body has regained its equilibrium.

These are the most common causes of female hair loss:

Hormonal Birth Control - Women who have hair loss issues, especially if there is a genetic predisposition to them, can have hair loss occur at a much younger age by taking birth control pills. Usually hair will regrow after six months of ceasing hormonal birth control.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - Women with this condition suffer from a variety of possible symptoms, one of which can be hair loss. It is best to address the complexity of this hormone imbalance through holistic means.

Pregnancy/Childbirth - Already mentioned, some women experience major shifts in their hair due to hormone fluctuations. This may mean curlier or straighter hair than normal, thicker hair, and often hair loss. Some women experience these changes during pregnancy while more women experience it after pregnancy. Either way, in most cases it usually resolves itself completely.

Thyroid Disease - Both an overactive thyroid and an underactive thyroid can cause hair loss. Thyroid imbalances can be diagnosed by your physician through laboratory testing. These imbalances are completely treatable through holistic means.

Deficient diet - With so many fad diets and extreme "detox" plans out there, it's very easy for women to inadvertently affect their hair's texture and thickness. Oftentimes an extreme shift in diet, particularly a low protein diet, extreme calorie restriction, or a predominately junk-food vegetarian diet may cause a protein deficiency that results in massive amounts of hair shedding, often two or three months after the shift in diet began. By restoring a proper balance to your diet the hair loss can be reversed.

Medications - Prescription drugs that treat anxiety and depression, as well as blood pressure may cause temporary hair shedding in a small percentage of people. It's important for women to know this as so many women opt for mood-stabilizing drugs when they feel at a loss in facing major life transitions. Most of the mood stabilizer and antidepressant drugs can cause this side effect.

Low Serum Iron - Iron deficiency can cause hair loss. Women with heavy or too frequent menstrual periods may develop iron deficiency. Low iron can be detected by laboratory tests and can be corrected with iron supplementation.

Stress - Stress is an interesting factor in hair loss for some. It can result from a major stress episode, and will cause the shedding three months after the episode and hair regrowth can resume three months after that. However, so many women now deal with chronic low grade stress, and depending on their genetic predisposition, this kind of stress can trigger earlier onset of androgenic hair loss.

What can you do to prevent it?

First and foremost, avoid taking birth control pills or antidepressants if you don't absolutely have to. Even if you think you do, seek another opinion and alternative first. If you are hormonally sensitive, and increasing numbers of women are (due to the amount of xenoestrogens in the environment and in food), then adding in synthetic hormones can further exacerbate a hormonal issue. In addition, it's very critical to maintain a healthy diet - avoid fad diets, extreme detox programs, or experimenting with vegetarianism without guidance. Physical activity is another fantastic preventative; it serves double duty both in promoting circulation of key nutrients to hair follicles and also in mitigating the hair compromising effects of the stress hormones on your body.

What can you do if it's already happening?

If you're finding yourself with hair that's thinning, or dealing with a hormonal issue, then first and foremost schedule a call with LSW. On the call we'll identify which of the many causes might be the culprit in your situation. What's most important is to learn about what's causing your hormonal imbalance and then to proceed through a healing process that addresses these underlying factors - including proper nutrition, support of the organs of elimination, and stress management. You can also go to your general physician or gynecologist and ask for a full hormonal panel. This way you'll know if there's anything you can work on in the short term - like an iron or thyroid issue. If it's not thyroid-related or if it's not a protein or an iron deficiency, then it's really an indication that your elegantly complex endocrine system needs some attention. Start by cutting out sugar and caffeine to help your body respond to stress better, increase insoluble fiber to help the body efficiently process hormones through your bowel movements, and engage in a moderate physical activity that makes you feel happy - it does not have to be for weight loss - it's more important that it puts a smile on your face as serotonin helps you with the impact of stress on your delicate hormonal balance.

Does it happen to EVERYONE?

In fact, it is more common than it is discussed. Although it's normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, most people experience excessive hair loss at some point in their life. The good news is that most causes are temporary while only a few are permanent. The best news is that learning about how your body works, understanding how to properly care for your hormonal system, and then making that the basis of your healthy lifestyle is the easiest thing you can do as a woman to improve your health for the long term!

What about dandruff?
While this is a seemingly more superficial problem, it can also signal a major hormonal imbalance. If you're plagued by flakes, it probably means you have a more acidic pH and it's time to rebalance your endocrine system and give your diet an adjustment. The suggestions below will also be helpful for you. You can also try the following suggestion:

Wash and condition your hair as usual. While still in the shower, tilting your head back so as not to get vinegar in eyes, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of organic apple cider vinegar onto your scalp and rub into scalp. Then rinse off and style as usual. This routine can be followed every day.

SOME REMEDIES

Here's a basic protocol to get started improving your hair's health. Try including some of the following:

Foods
Fruits and veggies - all contain flavonoids which protect hair follicles and encourage growth.
Brewer's yeast, green peas, brown rice, bulgur, lentils, oats, soy, sunflower seeds, and walnuts - all high in biotin - an essential nutrient for healthy hair and skin.

Herbs
Ginkgo biloba - improves circulation to scalp
Saw palmetto - helps with testosterone balance in a woman's body

Supplements
Inositol - vital for hair growth
Kelp - supplies needed minerals for proper hair growth - especially good if thyroid is deficient
BioSil - aids in hair growth and makes it stronger
B complex with biotin - important for growth of hair, deficiencies of biotin have been linked to hair loss
MSM (methylsulfonyl-methane) aids in the manufacture of keratin - a protein that is the major component of hair.