In my last post {link} I briefly mentioned how hormones can affect our hair. This triggered several messages from you, sharing your experiences and raised a few questions. So I thought it would be useful to elaborate, as clearly this is a subject of great interest to a lot of you. I’ll also highlight some effective hormonal hair loss treatments and other ideas, all to help retain as much of your hair as possible.

Hair loss caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) also known as Androgenic Alopecia, is actually quite common. It affects around five to twelve percent of women, depending on which study I read! Typically it impacts those between the ages of 15 and 44 the most. Hair loss caused by PCOS is understandably a big concern to a lot of my clients I chat with.

The biggest difference between hair loss in men, and women affected by PCOS, is the hair follicles in women actually stay alive. The good news is this increases the likelihood of hair loss therapy working and generating new hair growth.

So what is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition in which the ovary produces abnormal amounts of androgens causing hormonal imbalances – this disrupts the normal reproductive process.

This condition normally begins during puberty and is associated with irregular periods and other hormone-related symptoms. I’m just going to focus on the symptoms of hair loss in this post. The excess androgens, specifically dihydrotestosterone (DHT) bind to receptors and cause the hair follicles to shrink and become blocked. As the majority of women with PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles and don’t ovulate, they don’t get the usual benefits of progesterone – which helps prevent hair loss. This female hormone is only created in the body after ovulation or while pregnant. This explains why women who are pregnant usually have beautiful shiny and healthy hair – and also why female pattern hair loss is often seen in women post-menopause.

Some signs you may be experiencing hair loss due to PCOS include increased shedding, hair breakage and your hair falling out in clumps when you wash or brush it. Other symptoms include a receding hairline, thinning at the crown and a drier and itchy scalp with a buildup of dandruff.

So how can we reverse hair loss caused by PCOS?

Hormonal hair loss is a complicated side effect of PCOS – however, if you can restore the balance of hormones, your hair should start to regrow. I know I’m sounding like a broken record, but hair regrowth takes a long time, so you must be patient!

My first recommendation, if you haven’t done so already, is to talk with your doctor about managing your PCOS symptoms. A GP may suggest several options, including taking the contraceptive pill or a course of Progestogen tablets. This will help to restore your hormone levels. As I previously mentioned, PCOS comes with a myriad of symptoms, so there are many different medications available for a doctor to prescribe. Bear in mind you might need to try different medications until you find one that works best for you. Most people achieve better results when taking medication if they combine it with some lifestyle changes – a two-pronged attack!

When you see your GP, ask for a blood test to explore if you are deficient in biotin, protein, iron and zinc. All of these can dramatically affect the structure and growth of your hair.

We all know living a healthy lifestyle and exercising is important. I’m out walking more now the evenings are staying lighter and the weather is improving. Exercise most certainly helps minimise the symptoms of PCOS. Maintaining a healthy weight is not only important for our general health, but by losing just 5 to 10 percent of our body weight, we can significantly reduce the symptoms of PCOS.

You’ll also not be surprised to hear nutrition has a big impact on our hair, as well as our overall health obviously. Hair is actually the last place in our body that absorbs nutrition. So it makes a big difference if you’re eating healthily and providing your hair with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to grow. I know it’s boring, but try and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables as well as healthy fats, as these really are vital for both our hair and general health. I also take a good quality vitamin D supplement, as this is known to help with hair growth and improve my nails too!

Now let me quickly mention day-to-day hair care. A good regime can make all the difference with PCOS affected hair loss. I like to leave my hair to dry naturally as much as possible and then just use a blow-dryer to style it once it’s around 80 percent dry. Remember, always try to use less heat on your hair as this is really damaging. Another thing, if the initial hair loss is severe, try a shorter hairstyle while you work on thickening the hair and promoting new growth. A great trick to create the illusion of thicker hair is to change your parting.

Using the Nosheen Hair Oil two or three times a week will help. It will re-invigorate and restore the hair follicles, which helps promote new growth. I massage it in for a few minutes and then leave on overnight for the fullest treatment but definitely at least an hour.

And finally!

I’m fully aware of just how much PCOS can knock our confidence and mental health, especially when the symptoms become noticeable by others. But honestly, you’ll be surprised how the only person who really notices your hair loss is you! I’ve found talking with other women who have experienced similar issues really does help. There are several great online support groups and forums, where you can discuss your feelings, different treatments, remedies and pick up a few useful tips. I’ve put links to some of these below.

PCOS Support UK on Facebook –
www.facebook.com/groups/625853114258241

Verity PCOS –
www.verity-pcos.org.uk

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Support Group
www.dailystrength.org/group/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos

As I’ve hopefully explained, the side effects of PCOS are both varied and very frustrating. Yet with persistence and patience they can be addressed through various methods I’ve mentioned above – so don’t lose hope as there are so many things to help.

Please message me if you would like to discuss PCOS or any other hair related issues; I am always happy to help.

Take care,

Nosheen.