The healthiest cookies you’ll choose today

Our website uses cookies to collect useful information that lets us and our partners support basic functionality, analyze visitor traffic, deliver a better user experience, and provide ads tailored to your interests. Agreeing to the use of cookies is your choice. Learn more

Decline cookies Accept cookies
Skip to content
Fullscript leaf logo Sign in
Fullscript logo
Fullscript leaf logo
  • Our platform
    • Practitioner software
    • Pricing
    • Integrations
    • Patients on Fullscript
    • Book a demo
  • Learn
    • Spotlight
    • Protocols
    • Wellness blog
    • Practice resources
    • Webinars
    • Ingredient library
    • Practicing virtually
  • Support
    • Practitioner support
    • Patient help
    • Contact us
    • Or chat with us
Sign in Create account
Conditions
—

Hormonal Hair Loss in Women: Causes and Natural Treatment Strategies

November 6, 2020
Fact checked
Written by Karolyn Gazella
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN
  1. Wellness blog
  2. Hormonal Hair Loss in Women: Causes and Natural...

While a full head of hair is not biologically essential to physical health, it can have significant psychological and social implications, especially for women. (4) From a clinical standpoint, any form of hair loss, from thinning hair and bald patches to complete baldness, can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues. (10) That’s why helping female patients prevent or reverse hair loss is so important.

Every day, typically beginning in her 30s, a healthy adult woman loses about 100 hairs from the scalp. (14) When the hair doesn’t grow back, or hair loss occurs more rapidly, it may be time to explore the root of the problem. This article focuses on the most common cause of hair loss in both women and men, hormonal hair loss, which affects approximately 30 million women in the United States. (13) Other forms of hair loss, such as the autoimmune condition alopecia areata, will not be addressed in this article because causes, diagnosis, and treatments may vary.

Hormonal hair loss causes

Hormonal hair loss is also known as androgenic alopecia because there is a predominance of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of the male hormone testosterone. DHT binds to androgen receptors in hair follicles which leads to a shrinking of susceptible follicles and miniaturization of the hair itself, making it nearly impossible for hair to survive. (16) The result is female pattern baldness.

What is DHT?

DHT is the most potent male sex hormone produced in both men and women. In women, it is synthesized directly by the ovaries or the adrenal glands. (11) In the presence of increased DHT, the hair anagen (growth) phase is shortened and the telogen (resting) phase is increased, causing increased hair loss. (12)

Hair growth cycle phases
The hair growth cycle involves three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

Other hormonal hair loss causes

Increased DHT isn’t the only hormonal dysfunction that can lead to hair loss in women. Other risk factors include: (14)

  • Excess stress
  • Family history of hormonal hair loss
  • Medications such as chemotherapy
  • Menopause
  • Poor nutrition or a low protein diet
  • Thyroid conditions

Thyroid hair loss

There is a clear connection between the thyroid and hair loss, as thyroid hormones can directly alter hair follicle function. (15)

There are several types of thyroid disorders, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, goiter, and hypothyroidism. Of these, hypothyroidism is the most commonly associated with hormonal hair loss. (1)

Menopause hair loss

Menopause can also be a time in a woman’s life when she experiences hair thinning or hormonal hair loss. Estrogen protects against hair loss in women. During menopause, increased hair loss may occur as a result of natural reductions in estrogen levels and potential excess levels of DHT. (7)

Woman combing through her hair
Hormonal hair loss can be triggered by numerous factors, including stress, menopause, and poor diet.

Stress hair loss

It is well-known that stress triggers a cascade of hormones and that chronic stress is associated with a number of negative health effects. (17) Research demonstrates that the neurohormones, neurotransmitters, and cytokines released during the stress response can negatively influence hair cycles and disrupt hair growth. (3) For patients experiencing stress-related hormonal hair loss, employing stress management techniques and taking certain dietary supplements to address stress may be beneficial.

Natural treatment strategies

A natural approach to hormonal hair loss may involve strategies to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that helps metabolize DHT. (4)

Below are some medicinal plants that have been shown to have anti-androgenic or DHT reducing effects: (8)

  • Black cohosh
  • Chaste tree
  • Green tea
  • Licorice
  • Red reishi
  • Saw palmetto
  • Spearmint
  • White peony

Pumpkin seed oil has also been shown to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, helping to reduce DHT and promote hair growth. (5)

Pumpkin seeds and oil
Pumpkin seed oil may help promote hair growth.Other natural substances have been shown to help treat hair loss. A 2019 review identified the following substances that could be of benefit to women who are experiencing hair thinning or hair loss: (9)

  • Amino acids such as lysine and cysteine have been shown to thicken hair.
  • Herbs such as capsaicin, curcumin, garlic, onion, and rosemary have been shown to help promote hair growth and reduce shedding.
  • Vitamins such as biotin, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc are important because deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to thinning hair.

Hair growth products

Limited research shows that DHT-blocking shampoos may provide some benefit. These shampoos contain a variety of ingredients such as biotin, caffeine, zinc, and saw palmetto, and the antifungal agent ketoconazole. (6) Caution is warranted when choosing some of these products as illustrated by a 2018 study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Of the 50 most popular hair growth products available on Amazon, researchers found that when comparing the ingredients in those products to the scientific literature, all of the products received either a C or D rating, indicating a lack of efficacy. (2)

The bottom line

Female hormonal hair loss can contribute to mental and emotional health issues. Helping women uncover the cause of their hair loss can inform the treatment approach for these patients. Whether DHT, estrogen, thyroid hormones, or stress hormones are involved, natural treatments may play an important role in preventing and reversing female hormonal hair loss.

Fullscript simplifies supplement dispensing

Create your dispensary today I'm a patient
References
  1. Bakry, O. A., Basha, M. A., El Shafiee, M. K., & Shehata, W. A. (2014). Thyroid disorders associated with alopecia areata in egyptian patients. Indian journal of dermatology, 59(1), 49–55. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884928/
  2. Bater, K. L., & Rieder, E. A. (2018). Over-the-counter hair loss treatments: help or hype? Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 17(12). https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961618P1317X
  3. Botchkarev V. A. (2003). Stress and the hair follicle: exploring the connections. The American journal of pathology, 162(3), 709–712. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1868107/
  4. Brough, K. R., & Torgerson, R. R. (2017). Hormonal therapy in female pattern hair loss. International journal of women’s dermatology, 3(1), 53–57. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419033/
  5. Cho, Y. H., Lee, S. Y., Jeong, D. W., Choi, E. J., Kim, Y. J., Lee, J. G., Yi, Y. H., & Cha, H. S. (2014). Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2014, 549721. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017725/
  6. Fields, J. R., Vonu, P. M., Monir, R. L., & Schoch, J. J. (2019). Topical ketoconazole for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review. Dermatologic Therapy, 33. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dth.13202
  7. Goluch-Koniuszy Z. S. (2016). Nutrition of women with hair loss problem during the period of menopause. Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review, 15(1), 56–61. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4828511/
  8. Grant, P., & Ramasamy, S. (2012). An update on plant derived anti-androgens. International journal of endocrinology and metabolism, 10(2), 497–502. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/
  9. Hosking, A., Juhasz, M., & Mesinkovska, N. (2019). Complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia: comprehensive review. Skin Appendage Disorders, 5:72-89. https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/492035#ref131
  10. Hunt, N., & McHale, S. (2005). The psychological impact of alopecia. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 331(7522), 951–953. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1261195/
  11. Marchetti, P., & Barth, J. (2013). Clinical biochemistry of dihydrotestosterone. Ann Clin Biochem, 50:95-107. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1258/acb.2012.012159
  12. Urysiak-Czubatka, I., Kmieć, M. L., & Broniarczyk-Dyła, G. (2014). Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy dermatologii i alergologii, 31(4), 207–215. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171668/
  13. US National Library of Medicine. (Accessed 2020, August). Genetics Home Reference Androgenetic alopecia. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia#statistics
  14. US National Library of Medicine. (Accessed 2020, August). Medline Plus Hair Loss. https://medlineplus.gov/hairloss.html
  15. Van Beek, N., Bodo, E., Kromminga, A., Gaspar, E., Meyer, K., Zmijewski, M. A., Slominski, A., Wenzel, B. E., & Paus, R. (2008). Thyroid hormones directly alter human hair follicle function: anagen prolongation and stimulation of both hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation and hair pigmentation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 93(11):4381-4388. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/93/11/4381/2627273
  16. Vujovic, A., & Del Marmol, V. (2014). The female pattern hair loss: review of etiopathogenesis and diagnosis. BioMed Research International, 2014. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/767628/
  17. Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnston, T. P., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI journal, 16, 1057–1072. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579396/

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Disclaimer

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prev Next
Back to main wellness blog page

Get more resources for your practice

Protocols
Practice resources
Ingredient library
Webinars

Share

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Fullscript content philosophy

At Fullscript, we are committed to curating accurate, and reliable educational content for practitioners and patients alike. Our educational offerings cover a broad range of topics related to integrative medicine, such as supplement ingredients, diet, lifestyle, and health conditions.

Medically reviewed by expert practitioners and our internal Integrative Medical Advisory team, all Fullscript content adheres to the following guidelines:

  1. In order to provide unbiased and transparent education, information is based on a research review and obtained from trustworthy sources, such as peer-reviewed articles and government websites. All medical statements are linked to the original reference and all sources of information are disclosed within the article.
  2. Information about supplements is always based on ingredients. No specific products are mentioned or promoted within educational content.
  3. A strict policy against plagiarism is maintained; all our content is unique, curated by our team of writers and editors at Fullscript. Attribution to individual writers and editors is clearly stated in each article.
  4. Resources for patients are intended to be educational and do not replace the relationship between health practitioners and patients. In all content, we clearly recommend that readers refer back to their healthcare practitioners for all health-related questions.
  5. All content is updated on a regular basis to account for new research and industry trends, and the last update date is listed at the top of every article.
  6. Potential conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed.
Read more
Fullscript logo

We're certified carbon-neutral. It's part of our commitment to helping people get better.

American flag - toggles to show american specific contentUnited States
Canadian flag - toggles to show canada specific contentCanada
Product
  • Practitioner software
  • Integrations
  • Pricing
  • Patients
  • Supplement quality
  • Treatment adherence
  • Catalog
  • Wholesale
Company
  • Spotlight
  • About Fullscript
  • Collective
  • Leadership
  • Culture guide
  • Careers
  • Engineering
  • News
Support
  • Practitioner support
  • Patient help
  • Testimonials
  • General FAQ
  • Patient shipping
  • Wholesale shipping

© Fullscript 2023. All rights reserved.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Customer Support Policy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
Send this to a friend