Unveiling the Truth: Does Low Estrogen Cause Hair Loss?
Like other bodily functions, hair growth is influenced by the hormones in one’s body.
Estrogen, a sex hormone, regulates our mood and plays a role in hair growth.
When Estrogen levels are low, it does not solely impact their growth.
It also brings about changes in hair texture and also increases the likelihood of hair thinning.
But does low Estrogen cause hair loss? Read the article to know more about this.
Can low Estrogen cause hair loss
Low levels of Estrogen can cause hair to fall out.
When Estrogen levels are low, the hair appears weak and thinner, frequently suffering from shedding.
But do you know why does low Estrogen cause hair loss?
To understand the missing link between Estrogen and hair loss, we must consider Estrogen’s role in hair growth.
Estrogen plays a key role in positively promoting the growth of new hair.
More freely available Estrogen in the blood is linked to a better balance of hair growth phases, with many hair follicles in the Anagen phase (growth phase of hair).
- Anagen is the stage where actual growth occurs
- Catagen is the transition phase
- Telogen is the dormant phase where hair spends most of its lifetime.
Low Estrogen also causes a rise in levels of Androgens, which can lead to even further hair loss.
Estrogen stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH).
LH and FSH reduce free Androgens in the bloodstream, thus reducing hair loss.
Therefore, decreased levels of Estrogen can negatively impact hair growth and cause noticeable hair loss.
How can you treat low Estrogen hair loss
Various treatments can effectively address hair loss due to low Estrogen levels.
Some of them include:
Topical treatment
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication used for topical hair loss treatment.
It involves applying Minoxidil to the areas affected by hair loss.
Minoxidil prolongs the growth phase, thus giving more time for new hair follicles to emerge and replenish the lost hair follicles.
5% topical application of Minoxidil has been found effective for women suffering from hair loss.
Hormonal treatment
Since low Estrogen levels cause hair loss, hormonal treatments focus on increasing the levels of Estrogen artificially.
Doctors often advise taking supplementary Estrogen for hair loss.
Estrogens are available in tablets and topical creams and solutions for easy applications.
Hormonal treatment also includes Androgen blockers (chemicals that block male sex hormones) like Spironolactone.
This medication functions by stopping Androgen synthesis caused by low Estrogen levels.
Spironolactone has yielded positive results in most cases involving hair loss.
However, hormonal treatment is not without its drawbacks.
Side effects of hormonal medications include dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, breast tenderness, and electrolytic imbalances (insufficient essential minerals).
Therefore, although hormonal treatments can produce better results, they do not come free of their unique problems.
Lifestyle changes
These are some of the practices that can be added to your treatment for better results:
- Having a healthy weight can help to improve your Estrogen levels. Being overweight and underweight has downsides, as they can decrease your natural Estrogen levels
- Consume foods like soy products, lentils, peaches, bean sprouts, and cabbage, which are high in natural Estrogen. Maintaining a balanced diet is important
- Moderate exercise can boost your Estrogen levels, but prolonged high-intensity exercises can do more harm than good
- Stress has been shown to reduce natural Estrogen levels in women. Handling stress through adequate sleep, meditation, and occasional vacations from work can help
Additional therapies
Supplementary therapies, including laser therapy, fractional laser therapy, and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, are available but have less consistent results.
Hair transplants can be seen as a viable and permanent solution, but it does not affect the patient’s Estrogen levels.
Takeaway
The science behind the question “Does low Estrogen cause hair loss” is under active research, and new information is still being discovered.
Low Estrogen levels impair the growth phase of hair and increase the levels of Androgens in the blood, thus causing hair loss.
Maintaining regular reports and monitoring free Estrogen in the blood is important to prevent hair loss.
When Estrogen levels start declining, it is advised to seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
Topical treatments such as Minoxidil address low estrogen hair loss.
Hormonal options like applying Estrogen and Spironolactone under medical guidance are available.
Supporting these treatments, healthy habits like exercise and stress management can be beneficial.
Other options include hair transplant, laser therapy, and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment.
Every person is different and thus must consult their doctor to formulate a definite plan to combat hair loss induced by low Estrogen levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to completely reverse hair loss by low Estrogen levels?
No, unfortunately, it is not possible. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on how soon the problem is detected and addressed. It is possible to recover completely when the damage is moderate to low, but recovery is difficult and takes a long time for severe hair loss.
How does low Estrogen cause hair loss?
As the Estrogen levels drop, it decreases the diameter of the hair follicle, hastens the growth phase of new hair, and prolongs the Telogen phase of such hair. It causes early maturing of weak strands, which causes scalp thinning. Low Estrogen levels also cause a rise in Androgens, further shrinking hair follicles.
How can I increase my Estrogen levels?
Following a good diet rich in naturally occurring Estrogen, like cabbage, soy products, and bean sprouts, and food rich in vitamin B complex, like nuts and berries, naturally free Estrogen can be increased. It is an ideal solution to boost your Estrogen levels with medical intervention.
What does low Estrogen hair look like?
Low Estrogen hair seems thin, rough, and unhealthy. It’s more prone to shedding, and individual strands are thinner compared to healthy hair. This can lead to dryness, brittleness, and even hair loss or slower growth.
