Hair loss and hormones: Why am I losing my hair?
Everyone loses around 50 to 100 hairs a day! But what happens when these locks don’t grow back?
Hair loss is caused by several things. From ageing and bleaching to stress and medical conditions, many of us will lose hair at some point. On top of this, our hormones and hereditary factors can trigger shedding too!
Around two-thirds of all men and 50% of females over the age of 65 experience androgenetic alopecia, or, pattern baldness. For a long time, scientists believed that this type of hair loss was associated with the amount of testosterone circulating in the body. Yes, hormones do play their part but genes are now known to be a culprit too.
Although both male and female pattern baldness is caused by the same complex relationship between genes and hormones, they look very different...
MPB (male pattern baldness) is characterised by hair loss that starts above the temples and pushes the hairline back in an ‘M’ shape. Whereas FPHL (female pattern hair loss) causes a thinning of the hair on top of the head, this rarely leads to complete baldness.
The male sex hormones (androgens) responsible for hormonal hair loss are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is formed when a specific enzyme, which hangs out in the oil glands of hair follicles, converts testosterone into this more potent form of itself.
DHT is the culprit for killing your hair follicles. Once it binds to the follicle receptors, the hairs that grow out of them shrink in diameter and become shorter in length. Eventually, they shrink completely and stop producing healthy hair altogether.
This explains why women are more likely to experience FPHL after menopause. During The Change, the amount of oestrogen and progesterone women produce decreases. This drop gives DHT and testosterone the edge and they can react to more of the hair follicle receptors that cause hair loss.
The same science explains why some women with polycystic ovary syndrome lose their hair - because the condition causes an increase in androgens.
However, you can’t blame it all on hormones...
Interestingly, it doesn’t matter how hormonal you are. Pattern baldness is down to whether you have a specific gene that makes your hair follicle receptors more sensitive to hormones. So, your mum and dad could have a lot to answer for!
Currently, there is no cure for male and female pattern baldness but healthcare professionals can prescribe certain medications that slow the progression of the condition.
If medication isn’t for you, wigs and hairpieces work wonders for those who feel more comfortable disguising their hair loss. These days, you can get them made from synthetic materials and real hair, making it even easier to find a style to suit you!
If you want to find out more about androgenetic alopecia, visit the NHS website to find out more about hair loss, read this leaflet from the British Association of Dermatologists or, visit Alopecia UK!
If you need extra support for hair loss, visit our talkhair hub and sign up for our free myhairloss support programme.
Information contained in this Articles page has been written by talkhealth based on available medical evidence. The content however should never be considered a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek medical advice before changing your treatment routine. talkhealth does not endorse any specific products, brands or treatments.
Information written by the talkhealth team
Last revised: 6 July 2021
Next review: 6 July 2024
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