Hormonal Hair Loss

The Causes of Hair Loss Due to Hormonal Imbalances

Few people can escape hormonal fluctuations in their lifetime. We all experience them during puberty (usually as a hormonal surge that contributes to more hair growth, although teens can also experience hair loss). 

As we get older, hormonal imbalance and hair loss often go hand in hand. For example, women are prone to big hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, when hair loss can be a side effect. 

But can hormone imbalance cause hair loss outside the natural aging process? 

Yes — hormonal hair loss isn’t just about getting older. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid issues, or even chronic stress can also cause hormonal imbalances that lead to hair loss.  

• Post-pregnancy and hair loss
• Menopause hair loss
• PCOS hair loss
• Hair loss in thyroid disease
• Hypothyroidism hair loss
• Diabetes hair loss
• Stress hair loss

Hormonal Hair Loss Symptoms

So, what does hormonal hair loss look like? Unlike stress hair loss or hair loss from chemotherapy, hormonal hair loss doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It’s a gradual thinning — over time, you may simply notice that your hair isn’t as full as it used to be.

Hormonal hair loss symptoms may differ between males and females. Women are more likely to experience diffuse thinning across the scalp (perhaps with a widening part). 

Hormonal hair loss in men can be a little more obvious — a receding hairline or thinning around the crown. 

If you’re noticing more strands in your brush or a less luscious feel overall, it might be a sign that your hormones are out of balance. But there’s good news — once you’ve noticed the symptoms, you can do something about it. 

And the earlier you start, the more effective the treatment may be. 

Looking for a solution?

• Men’s hair loss treatment
• Women’s hair loss treatment

Diagnosing Hormonal Hair Loss

So you’ve recognised that you may be experiencing hair loss. But how do you know if your hair loss is hormonal? This is where it can get tricky — and where it helps to have a doctor on hand to help pinpoint the cause. 

Hair loss doctors and healthcare professionals have a diagnostic toolkit to help get to the root of the problem. 

Diagnosis typically begins with a scalp evaluation and medical history check. Your doctor will ask you a series of questions, which may cover topics such as the onset and pattern of hair loss, your family history, hairstyle habits, and overall health. 

At the same time, they will also check your scalp for signs of inflammation or scarring. 

Doctors often conduct a hair pull test, which involves tugging small sections of hair on different parts of the scalp to see how many hairs come out. If six or more strands fall out of a section of about 40 strands, it’s a sign you have active hair loss. 

To be on the safe side, some doctors will also order a blood test to rule out or confirm any underlying condition. This blood test can check things like nutritional deficiencies linked to hair loss or hormonal imbalances.

If it’s proving tricky to provide a diagnosis, your doctor may order a scalp biopsy, called a ‘punch biopsy’. Here, a small sample of scalp skin is taken to examine the hair follicles and surrounding tissues under a microscope. This can help identify conditions like infections or autoimmune diseases affecting hair growth.

By combining these approaches, healthcare providers aim to pinpoint the exact cause of hair loss and tailor a treatment plan to help stop hormonal hair loss.

Treatment Options for Hair Loss Due to Hormonal Imbalances

Diagnosing hormonal hair loss is half the battle. Once you know what’s causing hair loss, you can take steps to treat the root of the problem — restoring hormonal balance. 

But how to fix hormonal hair loss?

Depending on your situation, treatment might include anything from lifestyle tweaks to prescription hair loss medication or even procedures. 

As always, it’s best to consult a doctor before you begin treatment. 

Medical Treatments

There are two broad types of medications to treat hormonal hair loss. The first targets the hormonal imbalance itself while the second is designed to directly target hair loss. 

Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT)

As the name suggests, hormonal replacement therapy pumps up levels of hormones in the body that typically decline during perimenopause and menopause, such as oestrogen and progesterone. 

These therapies can be taken as a pill, patch, injection, or topically (such as a cream or gel). 

So how could HRT help hair loss? 

The main two types of HRT are oestrogen therapy and combined oestrogen/progesterone therapy. 

According to a 2020 Polish research paper, these same two hormones help regulate the hair growth cycle and interact with other hormones (such as androgens like testosterone) to maintain a healthy hormonal balance for hair growth. 

Despite this evidence, HRT isn’t a standard treatment for hormonal hair loss — it’s generally prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes and night sweats. 

Early studies, including a 2023 clinical study of Japanese women and a case study of a male taking oestrogen therapy, suggest that HRT may help treat hair loss (particularly in women impacted by postpartum or menopausal hormonal changes). 

But it’s by no means conclusive. We need far more data before we start confidently prescribing HRT as a bona fide hair loss hormone treatment. 

Medications Targeting DHT

Antiandrogen medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors help block the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, the hormone largely responsible for hair loss. 

While there are several types of this medication, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has only approved one — finasteride — as a treatment for hair loss. 

Dutasteride is another 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that’s also sometimes prescribed off-label to treat male hair loss. Both medications are available as an oral pill, although dutasteride may also be used as a spray. 

A 1999 clinical trial in the United States found that finasteride decreased the amount of DHT in men with male pattern baldness by as much as 60–75%. 

In the same year, a New Zealand clinical study of almost 2,000 men confirmed that just 1 mg/day of finasteride was effective in stopping hair loss and promoting hair growth. 

Studies on the effects of finasteride on women have been less promising, which is just as well since finasteride is rarely prescribed to premenopausal women, as it can cause birth defects in male babies.

Spironolactone is another antiandrogen like finasteride. Though it’s not approved by the TGA as a hair loss medication, it’s still sometimes used as an off-label treatment for female hair loss. 

The dermatologist behind The Hairy Pill®, Professor Rodney Sinclair, has conducted multiple studies of spironolactone as a treatment for female pattern hair loss. 

In both a 2005 study and a 2017 study, Professor Sinclair and his co-researchers included that spironolactone was a safe and effective treatment for female pattern hair loss. 

Lifestyle Changes and Management Strategies

There are a few proactive lifestyle changes you can take to help prevent hormonal imbalances and their impact on hair loss. 

Dietary Adjustments

Making dietary changes to incorporate more nutrient-dense foods can help promote hormonal balance. 

Whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats, are rich in fibre, which helps regulate insulin levels — a key factor in maintaining hormonal equilibrium.

Leafy greens, including spinach and kale, are rich in magnesium, a mineral essential for hormonal health. Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties also help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can disrupt hormone levels.

Meanwhile, omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish like salmon and in seeds such as flaxseeds and walnuts, play a vital role in reducing inflammation and supporting hormone production.

While you’re at it, it doesn’t hurt to also eat foods that are essential for healthy hair. 

Stress Management

Chronic stress can spike cortisol levels, causing a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. Integrating a few simple stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine can help keep your cortisol in check. 

Here are a few ways you can try to reduce everyday stress:

• Try several minutes of mindfulness meditation a day. A literature review of 200 studies found that mindfulness meditation helped reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. 
• Exercise regularly. Engaging in both aerobic and strength-training exercises helps regulate insulin levels and supports overall hormonal balance. Yoga in particular helps regulate the autonomic nervous system and lower cortisol levels. 
• Practice deep breathing exercises. A 2019 systematic review of physiological biomarkers and psychological self-reporting concluded that breathing from the diaphragm may help decrease stress. 
• Get 7–8 hours of sleep per night. The duration and quality of your sleep influence the release of hormones that control stress, hunger, and overall metabolism, including growth hormones, cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin.

Learn more about how a lack of sleep may cause hair loss. 

Scalp Care

While you can take steps to restore balance to your hormones, there are also a few things you can do to nurture your scalp and hair follicles, such as:

• Limit hair washing to 2–3 times a week with a small dollop of shampoo applied directly to the scalp.
• Ease off the steaming hot showers to protect your hair cuticles.
• Give yourself a scalp massage to improve blood circulation to the scalp. 
• Deep condition 1–2 times a week to restore hydration to your strands. 
• Avoid excessive use of the hairdryer, straightener or curling wand — essentially, any tool that applies heat to your hair. 

Find more ways to grow and maintain healthy hair. 

Natural Remedies for Hormonal Imbalance and Hair Loss

Alongside medication and lifestyle changes, there are a few safe natural remedies you can try to support your hair health. 

Some herbs and essential oils, including fenugreek, ginseng, and rosemary oil, may help improve the health of hair follicles or hair strength. You can read more about this in our guide to the best herbs for hair loss.

While these remedies can be beneficial, they’re not a substitute for medical treatments — always check with a healthcare professional before trying something new to ensure it’s the right approach for your needs.

Can Hormonal Hair Loss Be Reversed?

Hormonal hair loss isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. Regrowth depends on what’s causing the hair loss and how consistently you stick to treatment. 

Some people see noticeable improvement when they address the underlying hormonal imbalance, while others may need ongoing maintenance to keep hair loss at bay.

FAQs

Can a hormone imbalance cause hair loss?

Yes, many hormones play a role in the hair growth cycle, which means that a hormonal imbalance can impact hair growth and density and may contribute to hair loss. 

A 2022 research paper listed several hormones that may impact hair growth if imbalanced, including sex hormones (such as testosterone and oestrogen), growth hormones, prolactin, melatonin, and cortisol. 

Which hormone causes hair loss in males?

The main culprits behind male hair loss are androgens, commonly referred to as male hormones. 

Androgens include testosterone and its more potent derivative, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair follicles to shrink. 

Over time, you end up with finer and shorter strands of hair, which leads to the telltale receding hairline, thinning at the crown, and balding (this type of hair loss is called male pattern baldness). 

It’s not just about DHT though. How sensitive your hair follicles are to DHT comes down to genetics. The more sensitive your follicles, the more likely you are to be impacted by hair loss. 

Learn more about the role of testosterone and DHT in hair loss. 

Which hormone causes hair loss in females?

With women, hormonal hair loss usually happens when women have either too many androgens or too little oestrogen and progesterone. 

Women have higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone than men. These hormones are known to prolong the growing (anagen) phase of the hair growth cycle, keeping your hair growing for longer. 

Oestrogen and progesterone are also known to protect hair follicles from androgens, the hormones that can shrink hair follicles and weaken the hair. 

So when their levels drop — which usually happens postpartum or during menopause — the hair growth cycle is disrupted and the follicle-shrinking influence of androgens becomes more pronounced.

Though less common, an imbalance in thyroid hormone levels or a spike in cortisol levels (the stress hormone) can also cause a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. 

Can hormone replacement cause hair loss?

Yes, hair loss can be a side effect of hormone replacement therapy. The NHS lists hair loss as a side effect of oestrogen. 

How do I know if my hair loss is hormonal? 

Firstly, consider if your hair loss has been sudden or gradual. Sudden hair loss is often caused by chemotherapy, an autoimmune disorder, or even stress. 

On the other hand, a hormonal imbalance typically causes gradual hair loss. Signs of hormonal hair loss in men include receding hairline or thinning on the crown.

Meanwhile, signs of hormonal hair loss in women are more subtle — a thinner ponytail and wider part. 

If you suspect that your hair loss may be hormonal, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional who can diagnose the problem so that you get a treatment plan that’s right for you. 

How to stop hormonal hair loss?

If you want to stop hormonal hair loss, you need to figure out what has caused the hormonal imbalance and address the root cause. 

For example, hormonal hair loss caused by a pregnancy usually reverses naturally over time after childbirth. On the other hand, hormonal hair loss caused by menopause may require medication to boost levels of oestrogen and progesterone. 

For men, hormonal hair loss may be treated with the help of antiandrogen medications, such as finasteride. 

Does hormonal hair loss grow back?

Yes, as long as it’s caught early and the hormonal imbalance is addressed, hair loss can grow back. However, it may need a helping hand from hair loss treatments that can stimulate the hair follicles. 

Regardless of treatment, it will also take time (typically 3–6 months) for your hair to regrow. 

How to fix hair loss due to hormonal imbalances?

The best thing you can do to fix hormonal hair loss is to get a diagnosis. A healthcare professional can help identify the root of the problem and create a treatment plan that’s right for you. 

Otherwise, you’re just slapping on bandaid treatments in the hopes that something sticks. Hair loss hormone treatments typically include making lifestyle changes that address any hormonal imbalance and hair loss medication that may treat hormonal levels or the hair loss itself. 

More severe cases of hair loss may require a procedure, such as a hair transplant, to reverse the hair loss.