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PCOS |
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and Female Hair Loss
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is often considered a symptom rather than a disease. In other words, many conditions that inhibit ovulation can cause the ovaries to appear polycystic and to secrete more androgens (testosterone) than normal. On the other hand, this condition often seems to run in families so it must represent a specific genetic disease in some instances. Suffice it to say that PCOS may have multiple causes, and at least sometimes there is a genetic inherited cause, but not always.
PCOS is often associated with excess body hair growth (hirsutism), obesity, non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure. Hirsutism (from Latin hirsutus = shaggy, hairy) is the excessive and increased hair growth on female humans in those parts of the body where terminal hair does not normally occur or is minimal - for example, a beard or chest hair.
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| PCOS & Hairloss |
Why do women with PCOS have a problem with too much hair while others seem to go bald?
Both excess body hair growth in women and baldness can be due to too much blood hormone testosterone, an androgen. The blood testosterone is converted to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone which directly stimulates the hair follicle to grow. Body hair grows in response to testosterone much more so than does head (crown) hair. In the case of baldness, the head hairs are actually sensitive to too much testosterone and male-pattern balding is the result. There appears to be a genetic predisposition to premature balding in men (before age 30). The head hair follicles are just supersensitive to the dihydrotestosterone and the hairs fall out instead of growing.
If women have excess testosterone or other androgens such as dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA), the very fine body hairs will turn into coarse, dark hairs on the abdomen growing toward the navel and on the face in a beard and mustache pattern. If they have a genetic predisposition to baldness and the androgens are high enough, balding results. Therefore in PCOS with elevated androgens, most women have increased body and facial hair growth and some of them also have balding if they are genetically predisposed. If the testosterone blood levels are extremely high such as from an ovarian or adrenal gland tumor, then balding can occur even though there is not a genetic predisposition. In these cases, deepening of the voice and enlargement of the clitoris also occur due to the excessively high testosterone levels.
What can be done to arrest the progression of baldness due to excess androgens in PCOS?
Since some of the tendency to baldness is genetic in the environment of high testosterone, the only factor that can be altered is to lower the level of testosterone in the blood of women with PCOS. Testosterone is highly bound in the blood to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and only about 1% of it is free and active on the hair follicles. This free testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. In order to decrease hair growth then, the mechanisms would be to:
• decrease the manufacture of testosterone in the ovary
• to lower the amount of free testosterone in the blood
• to impair the action of 5-alpha-reductase enzyme .
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| Treatment |
Minimizing and Recovering From Post-Partum Shed
Because post-partum hair loss is governed by hormones, it cannot be completely prevented. However, vitamins and diet can help control the shed, as well as encouraging new hair to grow back quickly. These tips may help to minimize post-partum shed and ensure quick regrowth:
• Keep taking prenatal vitamins; many women take prenatals whether they are pregnant or not for the benefits to skin, hair and nails. Otherwise, the specific supplements Biotin (Vitamin H), Silica, Calcium and Zinc all help with hair growth and strength. Omegas, found in fish, avocados and nuts or in the dietary supplements Fish Oil and Flaxseed Oil, are also beneficial to hair growth.
• Scalp massage stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which encourages the hair follicles to grow hair. scalp massage can be done with the fingers, or with a boar bristle brush—however, the latter should only be used on detangled hair, otherwise it will rip through tangles and cause more hair loss.
• The birthing experience should be as calm as possible. Being well-informed, giving birth in safe and comfortable surroundings, and having a good support system during and after birth will ideally minimize any emotional trauma.
• Avoid thick creams or hair masques which might clog pores. Use mild rather than harsh shampoos. the new growth may initially appear to be finer than older hairs; this is due to the fact that hairs naturally taper at the ends. Thus, the short re-growth may appear 'baby-fine'. Trimming the new hairs will show that they are, in fact, as thick as the original hairs.
At Hairline we use a combination of prescription medicne, serums and USA FDA approved techniques to promote hair growth post child birth.
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