Do Hormones Affect My Hair Growth?

At Nova Medical Hair Transplant in New Jersey, we are aware of how thinning hair and hair loss may affect your self-esteem and severely affect your life. Our team provides complete hair restoration procedures to patients in the New York and New Jersey region. Our staff is led by a board-certified hair transplant expert and medical plastic surgeon.

If you’re experiencing hair loss, you may be curious about its causes and potential preventative measures. Changes in hair growth may be caused by a number of risk factors and underlying conditions, including your hormones, despite the frequency of hair loss.

We’ve created this blog in order to better understand hair development and whether or not hormones have any effect on it. Continue reading to find out all you need to know about how hormones affect hair growth.

Knowledge Of Hair Development

Before we dive into the subject, we’re going to go over some of the basics about hair development and what you should know. The base of your hair follicles includes protein-containing cells. These cells constitute the hair’s root, from which the hair develops. Blood veins in the scalp provide nutrients to the root, which is necessary for hair growth.

Your hair undergoes cycles of growth and loss comprised of three phases:

Anagen Phase

The anagen phase, which lasts between two and six years, is the time of vigorous hair growth.

Catagen Phase

During the catagen phase, which lasts two to three weeks, the root starts to contract away from the scalp.

Telogen Phase

The telogen phase, or resting phase, which lasts around 100 days and involves the daily loss of 25-100 hairs.

At any one moment, various hair follicles are in different phases, with the majority of hair in the anagen phase.

Pregnancy Hormones And Hair Growth

Remember how you didn’t lose any of your hair when you were pregnant? The number of hair follicles in the anagen phase rises during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone are especially beneficial to hair, extending the growth phase and reducing shedding. Women around three months postpartum, while hormones are normally attempting to re-balance and adapt to a “new normal,” found that the hair would fall out in clumps, washing down the sink, so quickly that it seemed miraculous that any of it remained connected to the scalp. Pregnancy-related hair changes are frequent, but since every woman is unique, her hair changes may vary. If postpartum hair loss occurs, the majority of women will enjoy a complete recovery, although the process may be gradual and take some time to go through the natural growth phases.

Hormones’ Impact On Hair Loss

Androgen hormones, sometimes known as “masculine” hormones, such as DHT and testosterone, have the biggest impact in hair growth overall. When the levels of these hormones are very high, you may have excessive hair growth, particularly on the body and face. However, when hormone levels decline, the opposite may occur, resulting in thinning hair or even hair loss. The hormones produced by your thyroid play a crucial role in hair growth. Your metabolism slows when your thyroid is not active enough. Your body starts to shut down “less critical” activities, such as hair growth, in order to compensate. Women experiencing menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or pregnancy may also experience alterations in hair development. Typically, this is due to alterations or imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels. During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels decline the most. Stress may worsen the consequences of estrogen deficiency, resulting in increased hair loss and thinning.

Vitamin B12 Roll In Hair Growth

To maintain active hair follicles, a healthy blood flow is required; oxygen-rich red blood cells nourish hair follicles. Vitamin B12, commonly known as cobalamin, aids in the formation of these red blood cells, hence promoting healthy hair development. Vitamin B12 is called “the vitality vitamin,” so it makes sense that its shortage might present as weakness and weariness – symptoms that seem to coincide with those mentioned in this blog for other forms of deficiencies. If you suspect vitamin B12 deficiency, a serum test can rule out abnormalities. B12 deficiency is often more prevalent in those with digestive problems such as low stomach acid, gastritis, or celiac disease, in older persons, vegans, vegetarians, and those who consume large amounts of alcohol. Vitamin B12 is present in meals derived from animals, such as meat and dairy, as well as fermented vegetables. Certain species of bacteria may provide vitamin B12 during the fermentation process, while plants do not produce this component.

Menopause And Hair Loss

Similarly, when the levels of estradiol and progesterone decline during menopause, symptoms that emerge apparently out of nowhere are not limited to hot flashes and night sweats. Many women are ignorant of and unprepared for the possibility that they could experience hair thinning. Similarly to postpartum hair loss, this condition is entirely hormonal. In contrast to the postpartum phase, menopausal hair loss is irreversible unless hormone replacement treatment is administered. Estrogen increases the length of time that hair spends in the growth phase; thus, as estrogen levels fall, hair loses its protective properties. In addition, testosterone’s androgenic effects may be amplified, with testosterone’s metabolite dihydrotestosterone causing increasingly thinner hair owing to the follicle’s inability to survive. When menopausal symptoms are present, a simple saliva test may evaluate the levels of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone to assist the patient and the practitioner in determining the most treatment approach.

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Other Causes Of Hair Thinning And Hair Loss

As we’ve previously talked about, hair loss is more prevalent among males, but it may also affect women. Since hormones can play a role in hair loss, it may also be caused by genetics, hormone imbalances, lifestyle variables such as how you wear your hair, medical treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, or even a traumatic incident. But you do not have to just accept it. The professionals at our clinic may be able to assist you with your condition. Our medical team provides a variety of therapies and procedures even if you are simply suffering from hormonal hair loss. The treatment that is most likely to be effective for you relies on a number of variables, including the root cause of your hair loss and your medical history. The following are some factors that could also be playing a role in your hair loss.

Your Age

Age raises the probability of hair thinning because follicles produce less hair and finally cease creating new hair overtime. This often occurs when your hair starts to lose its color or if the hairline starts to recede. The sooner you detect hair loss, the greater the likelihood that treatments will be effective. Similar to other anti-aging therapies, we can significantly halt the aging process. It is possible to age gracefully and have a positive outlook on one’s health and appearance with the help of preventative hair loss treatments.

Your Hair Products Or Styling Choices

You may be inadvertently thinning your hair by the products and styles you choose. Extremely abrasive hair products, such as gels and sprays, as well as perms, relaxers, and other chemical treatments, may cause hair thinning. Some products may even permanently damage hair follicles, rendering them incapable of producing hair. Carefully consider the goods you utilize. Another possible cause of hair loss or thinning is wearing your hair in styles that tug on it. Extremely tight buns, ponytails, braids, and other hairstyles may cause hair loss.

Hormone Problems

As we now know, hormones play a big part in hair loss. Both men and women may have hormonal abnormalities that result in thinning or loss of hair. Frequently, correcting the imbalance will promote hair growth. When most people consider an imbalance in hormones, estrogen or testosterone come to mind. However, problems with your thyroid may also cause hair loss. After correcting your hormonal imbalance, your hair should begin to grow again, and you should feel more energized and healthier overall.

Dietary Deficiencies

If you lack certain vitamins and minerals, you may suffer hair thinning and/or loss. For instance, iron and folic acid are believed to promote healthy hair follicles. In addition to causing hair loss, a deficiency in vitamins and minerals may have severe effects on your entire health and immune system. Our specialists can assist you in balancing your diet or recommend essential supplements.

Excessive Stress

One of the numerous negative effects of stress on your health is the destruction of new hairs that your follicles are attempting to produce. Additionally, stress might cause existing hair to fall out sooner than usual in the hair development cycle. These two variables may cause fast hair loss when combined. It’s simple to say “reduce your stress levels,” but it’s quite difficult to really take the actions required to do so. Consult your family doctor or one of our experts in a one-on-one consultation for hands on help. We may be able to provide helpful advice or propose therapies, such as acupuncture, that might be of assistance for you.

Treatments For Hair Loss In New Jersey

Our surgeon and the staff at Nova Medical Hair Transplant NJ are aware of the emotional effect that hair loss may have on a person and how this may influence the rest of their life. A lack of self-confidence and self-respect might make it more difficult to excel in your personal and professional life. For this reason, we are not only happy to provide the finest hair restoration services but we are also proud to be a part of this important transformation. During your appointment our team will check your hair and scalp and discuss your medical and family history prior to initiating therapy. This enables us to offer the most effective therapy for your specific requirements. The optimal therapy for your hair loss will depend on the severity of your hair loss symptoms and the objectives you have for hair restoration.

Get In Touch With One Of Our Hair Loss Experts In New Jersey

Hair loss not only causes physical stress, but it may also lead to mental stress in the long run. Don’t let hair loss as a result of hormone imbalances keep you from feeling your utmost best on the inside and the outside. If you are experiencing hair loss, our team can assist you in developing an effective treatment plan. To schedule your one-on-one consultation, please contact us by filling out the form on this page or giving us a call.