Have you experienced thinning hair or hair loss?
Men and women can experience hair loss as they age. Men may have a difficult time when losing their hair, especially if it starts at a young age. For women, losing hair can be devastating, with many women experiencing lower self-esteem and feel higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Men may see a gradual change in their hairline, with it getting pushed back further and further. Women often see hair loss spread out throughout the scalp. In some areas, there may be more hair, or the hair may be thicker, and as you look at the scalp you may notice small bald patches or areas with thinning hair.
Why are women under the age of 40 experiencing hair loss? Why are some men losing hair in their early 20’s? This article will delve into the reasons why you may be experiencing hair loss. In some cases, mainly for women, it’s possible to stop hair loss and improve hair regrowth.
Aging
Everyone experiences changes while aging, because our bodies change over time. Changes such as:
- Skin Wrinkles
- Hair Loss/Thinning hair
- High blood pressure
- Dry Skin
- More aches/pains
- More grey hairs
- Slower metabolism
Unfortunately, hair loss is one of those aspects of aging. As you age, your hair growth slows. However, this is where our genetics play a role in how much hair loss occurs, for example, if hair loss runs in the family.
Hormones
Hormones contribute to hair loss in both women and men. For example, high levels of Androgens can contribute to hair loss. Increased levels of Androgens in hair follicles can lead to growing thinner and shorter hairs, as well as shorter growth cycles, and is one of the contributors to developing PCOS.
PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a hormonal imbalance that can occur in women. One of the many symptoms of PCOS is hair loss. Hormonal imbalances, such as having high levels of androgens, estrogen, and insulin are one of the main causes of PCOS. In addition, chronic inflammation plays a role in developing this condition. For more information on PCOS, click here.
One way to find out which hormones are contributing to your hair loss, is through hormone testing. This will tell you which of your hormones are unbalanced. Having unbalanced hormones may be because of genetics.
For example, MTHFR mutations impair methylation. The body uses methylation to remove excess Estrogens from the body. When living with impaired methylation, it is more difficult for your body to get rid of these excess hormones, therefore Estrogen Dominance commonly occurs. Read our article on Estrogen Dominance here.
Dysregulated Thyroid
Many individuals with low thyroid or hypothyroidism, have thinning hair as one of their symptoms. With MTHFR mutations, the thyroid is commonly one of the first parts of the body to display symptoms, especially if thyroid problems run in the family. This is because, the thyroid glands tend to get dirtier or more easily overwhelmed with toxins. Detoxifying the body is one of the best steps in healing the thyroid and reducing thyroid symptoms. Click here for more infomation on detoxing.
Lack of Nutrients
Lacking certain nutrients can result in hair loss or thinning hair. Fortunately, these nutrients can be added through diet or supplementation.
- Zinc is very important for hormonal balance. As mentioned above, one of the causes of hair thinning is hormonal imbalance. Regulating zinc levels can be very beneficial in regulating hormones, improving thyroid health, fighting free radical damage, supporting the immune system, and increasing energy. Need additional Zinc supplementation? Click here for our MTHFR Friendly multivitamin.
- Vitamin C helps repair our tissues, skin, cells, cuts and scrapes. Having a deficiency can create dry and damaged hair. In addition, Vitamin C is extremely beneficial for immune health. Click here for our multivitamin, which contains Vitamin C.
- B Vitamins especially B12, B6, and B9. Vitamin B9, or Folate, plays a major role in synthesizing DNA, RNA, and proteins. These are involved in healthy hair production. Vitamin B12 produces red blood cells and supports healthy blood flow, both of which are important in hair production. Lastly, Vitamin B6 helps with the production of proteins, lipids, and glucose. Proteins help with hair growth, while lipids help with keeping hair healthy and shiny. Click here for an MTHFR Friendly B Vitamin complex to help your body get the vitamins and nutrients it needs.
- Vitamin D promotes healthy hair growth and strengthens hair follicles. Individuals with MTHFR mutations often have a hard time metabolizing Vitamin D, therefore, supplementation may be needed. For more information on Vitamin D, click here.
Improving nutrient deficiencies, supporting the thyroid, maintaining hormone balance, and choosing healthy lifestyle choices to help your body age optimally can improve hair loss in women.
Questions? Set up an appointment to speak one on one with our MTHFR Experts! We offer free 15-minute consultation phone calls. Click here to schedule an appointment.
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Sources:
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303720711003005
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861201/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01085.x