So how do estrogen and hair loss relate to each other? When it comes to losing their hair, women are generally luckier than men.
One of the reasons is because they have lower chances of developing Pattern Baldness at an early age and you can have the female hormone estrogen to thank for.So how do estrogen and hair loss relate to each other? When it comes to losing their hair, women are generally luckier than men. One of the reasons is because they have lower chances of developing Pattern Baldness at an early age and you can have the female hormone estrogen to thank for.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a female sex hormone that dominant in women but it can also be found in men in much lesser quantities. It does the opposite of the male hormone Testosterone and DHT which is to give a women its female’s characteristics. Its main purpose is to
- reduce body hair
- decelerate height growth
- promote breast enlargement
- promote hair growth
- reduce muscle mass and etc
Like its male counterpart, estrogen is very important for developing a woman’s characteristics and to emphasis on the felinity. Besides that, estrogen is also in charged of producing better skin, nails and hair.
While the male hormone Testosterone converts that DHT can cause your hair follicles to stop producing hair, estrogen does just the opposite. If you have normal levels of estrogen in your body, you can rest assured your risk of facing Female Pattern Baldness is much lower for the early part of your adulthood.
Estrogen and Hair Loss
As you get older in life, or during menopause, your estrogen levels might drop. This will result in what we call a hormonal imbalance. One of the effects of this imbalance is that with the reduction of estrogen, it paves way for the male hormone DHT to flood the hair follicles.
However, do keep in mind that not all hormonal imbalances are related to estrogen, some can be caused by other diseases such as thyroid problems. The Other Hair Loss Causes Section has a list of hair loss conditions that are caused by diseases and medical conditions that might interest you.
Without the adequate presence of estrogen in your body, you might be facing a hair loss condition as your hair is exposed to the effects of Testosterone. So keep in mind, estrogen and hair loss in women are directly related to each another.
Do you know how DHT destroys the hair? Learn more.
Can I Increase My Level of Estrogens?
When estrogen and hair loss is concerned. there are adequate solutions you can choose from to control the situation. Most of there treatments are mainly to stabilize your hormone levels and it’s best if you consult your doctor before beginning any treatments. Some of these treatmeants are
- Topical estrogenic products
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Estrogen pills
- Food that is high in estrogens (chicken, eggs and etc)
An increase in estrogen levels are proven to be beneficial for reducing hair loss. Nevertheless, research out there indicates the excess of estrogen can promote various diseases such as breast cancer as the cancerous cells needs estrogen to grow.
As for men, if you increase your estrogen levels, you are actually promoting female characteristics into your body. Which I do not recommend! (unless for another purpose though)
The Disadvantages of Excessive Estrogens
If you are opting for ways to increase your estrogen, bear in mind that excessive levels may cause or promote
- gall bladder diseases due to fat saturation
- increased glucose levels which are bad for diabetics
- possible heart diseases
As there is no concrete link that a substantial increase in estrogen beyond normal can truly benefit hair loss treatment, I have decided not to recommend any estrogen related treatments for hair loss now until sufficient evidence proves otherwise.
It’s best to consult a specialist before wanting to try any hormone related therapy. Unregulated use can cause more harm than good.
You Can Still Use Other Treatments
There are still other ways to promote hair growth if you are a women suffering from hormonal imbalance. You can use topical hair products like Rogaine which are FDA proven to promote hair growth. There are also enzymes inhibitors that can deflect the creation of DHT.
