PCOS Hair Loss Causes And 7 Treatment Options

Table Of Content

• Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
• Why Do Women with PCOS Experience Hair Loss?
• rs.type = 'text/javascript';
• Addressing shortfalls through diet and supplements: Does it help hair growth?
• Elevated Androgen Levels
• Diabetes and its health risks, from kidney and heart failure to amputations

Low level laser light therapy has been shown to be effective at improving circulation to the hair follicle. It has a low side effect risk in treatment for female pattern hair loss. Cyclical hormones like estrogen and progesterone can directly affect hair growth. You may know that during pregnancy, hair becomes thicker and fuller.

Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

High-quality supplements shouldn’t have a lot of filler ingredients. Metformin can also be prescribed to people with PCOS to help regulate insulin levels, and the subsequent weight loss from taking this medication can have a positive effect on hormonal balance and hair loss. Choosing the right hair products is also important for healthy hair growth.

4 myths about PCOS and why they are wrong - University of Sydney

4 myths about PCOS and why they are wrong.

Posted: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Why Do Women with PCOS Experience Hair Loss?

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS-related hair loss, it may feel overwhelming. In addition to the tips above, you may even consider finding a support group to help you with the emotional impact of your hair loss. Speak with your healthcare provider about medical treatments and lifestyle modifications that help you look and feel your best.

rs.type = 'text/javascript';

Addressing the endocrine and metabolic deviations, inculcating life-style modifications and involving the use of lasers for hirsutism, forms the mainstay of the management. As such, there is no single test to clinch the diagnosis of PCOS. Final diagnosis is based on clinical features, physical findings, and few laboratory investigations. HA is the most important feature and to confirm biochemical hyperandrogeniemia, commonandrogens to be measured are testosterone (total or free), androstenedione, DHEA, and DHEA-metabolite DHEAS.

Addressing shortfalls through diet and supplements: Does it help hair growth?

This of particular clinical importance, since many women are on hormonal contraception at the time of presentation, precluding accurate testing of these labs. Identification of PCOS is critical given that these women have a higher risk for metabolic syndrome, some malignancies and infertility [2]. Dermatologists treating FPHL patients are uniquely poised to aid in early diagnosis and enable pharmacologic interventions and lifestyle management. If fertility is the issue, treatments like ovulation-inducing medications or in vitro fertilization (IVF) can help.

Elevated Androgen Levels

Using gentle, moisturizing shampoos and conditioners can protect hair from breakage. Avoiding heat styling tools and harsh chemical treatments can also help maintain hair health. Hairs are shed when a hair follicle leaves its growth phase and enters the resting phase. Telogen effluvium is the medical term used to describe excessive hair shedding. In this condition, the body’s cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin. The pancreas responds by increasing insulin production until it can no longer compensate for insulin resistance.

Diabetes and its health risks, from kidney and heart failure to amputations

The FDA has approved the oral hair-regrowth drugs finasteride (Propecia) and dutasteride (Avodart) to treat male pattern baldness and hair loss. While they might be effective for some, their use may be constrained in biological women due to their unfavorable side effects. Hair loss is actually not the most common symptom of PCOS because it takes very high levels of androgens to cause this. However, hair loss is definitely a potential symptom of PCOS, and some women with PCOS, unfortunately, experience this.

While more research is needed to fully understand the connection between PCOS and FPHL, the cause is probably related to excess androgen. Excess DHT, or increased sensitivity to DHT, can lead to hair thinning and hair loss. Talking it through with a community of others with androgenetic alopecia can help manage your emotions. It may lead you to inquire about treatment options you may not have considered.

Recognizing Symptoms of PCOS-Related Hair Loss

Talk to a treatment specialist at Invigor Medical about weight management treatment plans. Hair regrowth is possible with certain treatments, such as medications, scalp massages, or supplements. Read on to learn about hair loss related to PCOS, including treatment and when to see a healthcare provider.

Supplements like biotin, iron, and zinc can possibly stimulate hair growth, but more research is needed. A healthcare provider can administer a blood test to see if you have low levels of any of those nutrients. Various treatments ranging from birth control to topical medications to surgery can help reduce your hair loss. Using a combination of treatments will most likely yield the best results. Inositol or myo-inositol is a common recommendation for women with PCOS‘ due to the high amount of research showing benefits with little side effects. Research has shown myo-inositol to improve testosterone levels, support ovarian function and restore irregular ovulation, and reduce symptoms of hirsutism.

Our hair follicles are sensitive little creatures, especially to something called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is when there are too many free radicals and not enough anti-oxidants. It commonly shows up first, either near your forehead or temples or along the part of your hair. High levels of testosterone and other androgens interrupt the normal menstrual cycle. They may block the process of ovulation, which can then lead to the formation of cysts on the ovaries.

However, despite the name "polycystic," you don’t need to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects your hormones. It causes irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and infertility. People with PCOS may be at higher risk for certain health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure. A lot of people with PCOS have a higher risk of insulin resistance, meaning the body loses its sensitivity to the hormone, Dr. Klein says.

Dr. Fu and colleagues noted that the earliest time point at which LDOM should be expected to demonstrate efficacy is 3-6 months. “Baseline testing is not routine but may be considered in case of identified precautions,” they wrote. LDOM has become a popular alternative for patients for whom topical minoxidil is logistically challenging, irritating, or ineffective, she continued. Weight reduction drugs may be helpful in reducing hyperandrogenaemia, but there is no direct evidence of benefit of met for min on hirsutism or acne. In a study by Yilmaz et al., rosiglitazone was found to have some effect onhirsutism.[55] Metformin would benefit women having insulin resistance or deranged blood glucose levels. Other concerns include hypercoagulability and vascular reactivity in women with history of vascular diseases like migraine.

The severity of symptoms may change over time, especially with interventions like diet, exercise, and medical treatment. If you’re experiencing hair loss and suspect PCOS might be the cause, consult with a specialist. A gynecologist, endocrinologist, or dermatologist can provide an accurate diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment options.

History should include duration of cutaneous manifestation, menstrual history, history of infertility, diet history, and family history. PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease) is a known identity since 1935 when Stein and Leventhal first described a case series of seven women who presented with oligo/amenorrhea, obesity, hirsutism, and bilateral polycystic ovaries. Due to complexity of this disorder and various controversies, three sets of diagnostic criterion have been proposed to diagnose PCOS in last three decades [Table 1]. It’s best to allow three months before results really kick in and can be seen. You should not take spironolactone if you are trying to become pregnant as it has been linked to birth defects.