Hair and Hormones

Hair. Hair is one of the most defining characteristics that can instantly change our look. Style it and instantly blend in with any era through time or any group. Change the color, the cut, wear it up or down, or shave it off! Hair is often taken for granted until it starts to change for the worse!

What can cause hair loss, thinning hair, dry hair, dander, or going bald? Well, a lot of times, hormone imbalances and nutrient deficiencies are the leading cause. 

It’s a difficult balance. One that will fluctuate whether you like it or not throughout your life. That is because optimal levels of estrogen help to grow full thick hair, while low estrogen levels lead to thin and stalled hair growth, leading to hair loss. Throughout your life, you’ll go through cycles of highs and lows in estrogen levels. An example is puberty, which is often associated with high estrogen levels as a woman starts to cycle through menstruation. You’ll get an increase in hormone productivity during pregnancy, but once the baby has been delivered, your body will often drop in estrogen levels, which can result in thinning and loss of hair.

As you can see, it’s a common misconception that you only have to worry about hair loss at an older age because the bottom line is, hair loss happens to every woman at every age. Now it’s happening to even younger women more frequently because of stress, nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, thyroid issues and even toxin exposures that are happening from our day to day products and food.

In the United States alone, an estimated 20 million women are experiencing hair loss right now. That includes the women who are living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone condition affecting 1 in 10 women.

What’s causing my thinning hair?
We are going to review a few reasons why you might be experiencing hair problems.

Stress. Oh Stress! It can affect your hair in three ways the first is called Telogen Effluvium and it’s a fancy word for stress pushing out large numbers of hair into a “resting phase” and within a few months, the hairs will just start to fall out. The second is called Trichotillomania (omg… who comes up wit these names) and it’s when you’re so stressed that you can’t resist pulling at your hair from your scalp! And third… is called Alopecia Areata (who comes up with these names? I guess all the simple words were already taken) this is where your bodies immune system actually attacks the hair follicles. Here are some helpful ways to deal with stress.

Estrogen Dominance which happens when your body is overloaded with estrogen in relation to progesterone. This can happen from what we eat, how much sleep we are getting, our stress levels and other environmental factors. This can cause thinning hair, PMS, Irregular periods and more. You’ll want to do a detox (aka eat super healthy to set your body on the right track). Try to eat white fish or salmon, beans (lentils, chick peas, etc.), quinoa, kasha, dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, broccoli), and veggies like carrots, onions, celery, and add some garlic! You get the idea.

PCOS is often associated with hair growth, on your face or in other unwanted areas because of increased higher-than-normal levels of androgens, including testosterone but what about hair loss? Women with PCOS often have thinning hair due to the effects of male hormones called androgenic alopecia. Other causes can be from the reduction in estrogen levels happening during menopause or from thyroid disorders.

How to fix my hair!
When you’re trying out the following suggestions, don’t forget to eat balanced meals and to still exercise regularly (even walking helps). Making life style changes when you’re not taking care of your general needs isn’t as affective as it can be.

Helpful Vitamins:

There are also studies that show onion juice can help with hair growth! I know… who wants to go around smelling like an onion? However it could be worth it and you only need it on your head for 30 minutes before you can wash it out. Though the studies were small, researches found hair growth in just two weeks when it was used on the scalp twice daily. I don’t know about you but I’d try anything with that short of a turn around time. It can’t hurt to try and if you don’t see the results, you can stop! Where does someone buy onion juice… Amazon has everything.

The main thing is to find ways to not let your hair loss increase your stress levels. Which is easier said than done. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, these tend to amplify emotion more more than you realize.Try supplements that will balance out your body like S'moo and vitamin-B complex. Also spend sometime with yourself, and light some candles and take a hot bath while focusing on your diaphragmatic breathing.

Most hair loss can be helped or at least stopped when your body re-regulates. WE are in this together and if you need more support and ideas from women like you, feel free to join our facebook group of S’moo babes supporting one another.

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is strictly the opinion of S'moo and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither S'moo nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.