Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that can cause a range of symptoms like acne, infertility, hirsutism and more. In PCOS, hair loss is common and can be fixed with right food and medication.
In polycystic ovary syndrome, women may develop thick hairs on the face and body but also experience mild to massive hair loss. This type of hair loss is also called female pattern hair loss.
Does PCOS cause hair loss?
Yes, polycystic ovary disease causes hair fall because women with PCOS produce more androgens. And these androgens stimulate hair growth in unwanted areas such as the face, chin, underarms and pubic area.
This excess male hormone also causes hair loss in women. This causes the hair on the front of your head to become thinner. Hair loss due to polycystic ovary disease usually fall out from the root itself. Hair is dry and damaged and can break easily.
Is hair loss due to PCOS reversible?
Your hair loss due to PCOS is not reversible. But you can stimulate new hair growth with the right treatment. There are many things you can do to prevent hair loss related to polycystic ovary disease.
Triggering factors for hair loss
There are also other factors that can make hair fall out:
- Exposure to extreme temperatures
- Chronic infections and diseases
- Taking certain medications
- Anemia (iron deficiency)
- Lack of vitamins and trace elements
- Stress
How to stop PCOS hair loss
Hormonal imbalance causes hair loss in pcos, so treating the root cause is a very important part of the treatment.
There are medical and natural ways to bring back hormones to a normal level. You need to take action depending on how terrible is your hair fall.
Medical treatment
Medical treatment for pcos hair loss starts from balancing your hormones first. There will a set of medication to reduce your hair loss. You may need to try few medications before you find one that works for you.
Here are some treatment options:
Oral contraceptive pills
Birth control pills can bring down excess male hormones present in your body to help in reducing hair loss. It will also help you in regulating menstruation and acne.
Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Aldactone is a diuretic used to treat fluid retention in the body. However, it also helps in treating androgenetic alopecia by blocking the effects of androgens on the skin.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Minoxidil* is an FDA approved topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia. It is a daily application on your scalp and is commonly used for pcos hair loss.
Hair transplant
If your hair loss is excessive and your scalp is visible, you can opt for the surgical procedure of hair transplant.
Hair transplant is a cosmetic and costly procedure and the results are not assuring.
Home remedies for PCOS hair loss
If you are looking for natural remedies for PCOS hair loss then over-the-counter treatments like specialized shampoos, hair treatments, vitamins and herbs are good to start.
Weight loss:
Losing weight can lower androgen levels and reduce the effects of excess androgens in women with polycystic ovary disease.
There are few natural remedies, diet and a weight loss plan that help to lose weight and lowers androgen levels naturally.
Yoga
Women with PCOS are encouraged to be physically active to balance hormones and reduce insulin resistance to treat polycystic ovary disease and related symptoms. Yoga helps to increase relaxation and balance the hormones.
Here are few yoga therapies that help in reducing hair loss:
- Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Sarvangasana
- Balasana
- Sirsasana
- Vajrasana
Supplements
Some supplements help you balance your hormones and treat PCOS naturally. They can also help reduce hair loss and make them grow back. Here are few supplements that add to hair gain:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Omega 3
- Biotin*
- Zinc
Your hairs can take up to 6 months to show a good change in hair growth. You just need to be consistent with that one treatment that worked for you.
I will advise you to eat healthy food, sleep well and be active to combat polycystic ovary disease and hair loss.
There is no medical need to treat hair loss related to PCOS. And in many cases, you can reduce the appearance of PCOS-related hair loss with a few changes to the way you style your hair.
Hopefully, these tips will help you on your hair regrowth journey. Send me your queries and leave a comment below with your feedback. Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter to be the first to get new posts! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
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