Hormones
Hormones are the most common cause of hair loss for both women and men. In both sexes, the specific hormone responsible for hair loss is the same: dihydrotestosterone (known as “DHT”), a hormone that your body produces as a byproduct of testosterone.
Both men and women need testosterone. In men, the body has a large amount of testosterone and a fairly small amount of estrogenic hormones. In women, this ratio is reversed, with a small amount of testosterone and larger quantities of estrogen and progesterone hormones.
Testosterone is responsible for several functions in your body, from regulating your sex drive to keeping your bones and muscle tissue healthy and strong.
Your body uses testosterone as a precursor for several other hormones. One of these hormones is DHT. DHT affects your hairline by miniaturizing hair follicles, causing the hairs to stop growing as they normally would and eventually fall out.
This hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, or female-pattern hair loss (FPHL). Overall, it’s the most serious form of hair loss. Because androgenic alopecia can miniaturize your hair follicles, the hair that you lose is often gone permanently.
In women, hormonal hair loss produces different results from men. Instead of the horseshoe-like hair pattern or receding hairline common in men, women with hormonal hair loss usually notice a diffuse thinning pattern across the entire scalp.
In simple terms, you probably won’t get a receding hairline if you’re prone to female-pattern hair loss, but your hair might become noticeably thinner.
These are a couple things that can help:
Spironolactone
Spironolactone is an antiandrogen that works by reducing the levels of testosterone produced by your body. By lowering your testosterone levels, spironolactone can help to lower the levels of DHT in your scalp.
Although spironolactone is best known as an acne treatment, studies show that it also works well as a treatment for female hair loss.
Spironolactone is a prescription medication, meaning you’ll need to talk to your healthcare provider before you can use it. As an antiandrogen, it’s important to be aware that spironolactone can cause side effects beyond its direct effects on your skin and hairline.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a topical ingredient that works by stopping the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Like spironolactone, it works on a hormonal level, helping to reduce the amount of DHT that reaches your hair follicles and causes thinning.
You can find saw palmetto as an ingredient in some hair loss prevention shampoos. While the science on saw palmetto isn’t conclusive, there have been studies done with men that do show improvements in hair growth when people with hair loss use it as a supplement.
Hormones are the most common cause of hair loss for both women and men. In both sexes, the specific hormone responsible for hair loss is the same: dihydrotestosterone (known as “DHT”), a hormone that your body produces as a byproduct of testosterone.
Both men and women need testosterone. In men, the body has a large amount of testosterone and a fairly small amount of estrogenic hormones. In women, this ratio is reversed, with a small amount of testosterone and larger quantities of estrogen and progesterone hormones.
Testosterone is responsible for several functions in your body, from regulating your sex drive to keeping your bones and muscle tissue healthy and strong.
Your body uses testosterone as a precursor for several other hormones. One of these hormones is DHT. DHT affects your hairline by miniaturizing hair follicles, causing the hairs to stop growing as they normally would and eventually fall out.
This hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, or female-pattern hair loss (FPHL). Overall, it’s the most serious form of hair loss. Because androgenic alopecia can miniaturize your hair follicles, the hair that you lose is often gone permanently.
In women, hormonal hair loss produces different results from men. Instead of the horseshoe-like hair pattern or receding hairline common in men, women with hormonal hair loss usually notice a diffuse thinning pattern across the entire scalp.
In simple terms, you probably won’t get a receding hairline if you’re prone to female-pattern hair loss, but your hair might become noticeably thinner.
These are a couple things that can help:
Spironolactone
Spironolactone is an antiandrogen that works by reducing the levels of testosterone produced by your body. By lowering your testosterone levels, spironolactone can help to lower the levels of DHT in your scalp.
Although spironolactone is best known as an acne treatment, studies show that it also works well as a treatment for female hair loss.
Spironolactone is a prescription medication, meaning you’ll need to talk to your healthcare provider before you can use it. As an antiandrogen, it’s important to be aware that spironolactone can cause side effects beyond its direct effects on your skin and hairline.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a topical ingredient that works by stopping the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Like spironolactone, it works on a hormonal level, helping to reduce the amount of DHT that reaches your hair follicles and causes thinning.
You can find saw palmetto as an ingredient in some hair loss prevention shampoos. While the science on saw palmetto isn’t conclusive, there have been studies done with men that do show improvements in hair growth when people with hair loss use it as a supplement.