How Hormones Affect the Growth of Your Hair, Understanding how hair grows, The role of hormones on hair loss, Help for hair loss

At Honest Hair Restoration in Bradenton, Florida, we understand how thinning hair and hair loss can change your confidence levels and negatively impact your life. Led by board-certified hair transplant specialist and medical director Martin Maag, MD, our team offers comprehensive hair restoration services to patients in the Tampa, Sarasota, and Ft. Myers areas.

If you’re struggling with hair loss, you may wonder about the causes and whether there’s anything you can do to prevent it. Although hair loss is common, different risk factors and underlying issues may cause changes in your hair growth, including your hormones.

Learn what you need to know about how hormones affect the growth of your hair.

Understanding how hair grows

Your hair follicles contain cells of protein at the bottom. These cells make up the root of your hair from which the hair grows. The root needs nourishment to keep your hair growing, which is delivered by the blood vessels in your scalp.

Your hair goes through cycles of growth and shedding made up of three phases:

• The anagen phase, the phase of active hair growth that lasts for two to six years
• The catagen phase, a transitional phase that lasts two to three weeks in which the root begins to shrink away from the scalp
• The telogen phase, or resting phase, which lasts for about 100 days and includes the shedding of between 25-100 hairs each day  

Different hair follicles are in different stages at any given time, with the largest percentage of hair in the anagen phase. 

The role of hormones on hair loss

Androgen hormones, sometimes referred to as “male” hormones, like DHEA and testosterone, play the largest role in your overall hair growth. When your levels of these hormones are too high, you may experience excess hair growth, especially on the body or face. However, when your hormone levels drop, the reverse occurs and can lead to thinning hair and even hair loss. 

The hormones produced by your thyroid also play an important role in hair growth and hair loss. When your thyroid isn’t active enough (hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows. To compensate, your body begins to shut down “less important” functions, such as hair growth. 

Menopausal women and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or who are pregnant may also notice changes in their hair growth. This is typically because of changes or imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels. The largest drop in estrogen occurs in perimenopause and menopause. Stress can exacerbate the effects of the loss of estrogen, causing further hair loss and thinning

Help for hair loss

Dr. Maag and the team at Honest Hair Restoration understand the emotional impact hair loss can have on you and how this may affect the rest of your life. Lower self-confidence and self-esteem can make it more challenging to do your best at work and in your personal life.

We’re proud to offer the best in hair restoration. Before beginning treatment, Dr. Maag examines your hair and scalp and reviews your medical and family history. This allows him to recommend the best treatments for your unique needs. Depending on your situation, these may include: 

• Hair transplants
• Exosomal hair restoration
• Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
• Regenerative treatments ( platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, therapy)
• Prescription medications
• Low-level laser treatments

The best treatment for your hair loss depends on your hair-loss symptoms and the restoration goals you hope you achieve.  

Contact Dr. Maag at Honest Hair Restoration in Bradenton by calling 941-739-9001, or book a consultation online now to learn more about hair loss and your treatment options.