Balance Check!

How PCOS Affect Your Hair

What is PCOS?

PCOS is an ovarian disease in which ovaries do not respond well to the pituitary gland’s hormonal clues. In this disease, follicles do not rupture and end up releasing the egg on time. Instead of releasing an egg, these follicles grow and produce an ovarian cyst. This disease is the most common disease among women. During PCOS, the body releases the same hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which create havoc inside the body.

Symptoms of PCOS:

The most common symptoms of PCOS are:

• Irregular periods or cessation in monthly menstruation

• Increase in the bodyweight

• Increase in growth of hair on body and face

• Acne production due to skin changes (oily skin)

The relation between PCOS and hair health:

Most of the women going through PCOS suffer from intense hair loss. There are several reasons behind this kind of hair loss.

Our bodies consist of androgens as androstenedione as:

• DHT (dihydrotestosterone),

• DHEA-S (DHEA sulfate),

• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)

Females also produce these androgens inside their ovaries, fat cells, and adrenal glands. These hormones play a significant role in initiating puberty by stimulating hair growth in pubic and underarm areas. These hormones also influence the frequency and degree of blood loss when a woman menstruates.

In women, levels of these hormones are lower than the men. During PCOS, ovarian follicles change into the cyst and produce too much of these hormones. This additional secretion of hormones can block the hair's follicles and lead to AGA (Androgenic alopecia). AGA is common in about 20% of women before menopause and 40% after it.

In AGA, these are the main manifestations:

• The diameter of the hair becomes thin

• Hair becomes shorter in length

• The color of hair changes from darker shades to the lighter ones

• No production of new hair follicles and hair growth

Hair loss due to PCOS occurs in FPHL (female-pattern hair loss). In this type of hair loss:

• Hair loss or thinning starts from the crown of your head

• Gradually, the thinning spreads to the top of the head

• The scalp of the hair becomes visible in the direct sunlight

• Near baldness experience during the time of menopause among women

DHT hormone is the main culprit in this type of baldness. DHT binds with the follicles of the scalp and shrinks them. Shrinkage of these hair follicles makes it difficult for the hair to grow and survive.

In normal circumstances, progesterone tends to combine with these receptors, which prevent hair loss. In PCOS, low progesterone hormone levels lead to more hair loss.

Hair loss due to PCOS is irreversible on its own. It would help if you took the proper treatment for your hair to grow back. Through the different treatments, you will be able to stimulate your new hair growth.

Hormonal regulation and medications can help with hair loss due to PCOS.

Takeaway:

PCOS is a hormonal disease among women that results in manly features among women. Most of the time, PCOS results in hair loss and hair thinning among women. The reason behind this is an excess amount of androgens and less availability of progesterone. If you want to reverse the hair loss due to PCOS, then go for medical treatments.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6434760/

2. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/104/7/2875/5342938

3. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)00033-8/fulltext