Hair loss or thinning hair are issues that impact many adults throughout their lifetimes. Hormones are often responsible for much of this, but a whole spectrum of nutrients also play their part. Fortunately, you don’t have to surrender to what’s happening while your appearance changes. Many hormone imbalances are reversible. Even the ones that aren’t can still be treated to attempt a restoration of healthy hair.
Hormones That Impact Hair Health
Your endocrine system includes numerous tissues, organs, and glands that produce and release hormones, which are chemical messengers coordinating various physical functions. These chemicals travel your body through your bloodstream and tell your body what it needs to do and when it needs to do it. Hormones are crucial to healthy living, and your hair growth is one of their responsibilities.
Oestrogen
Oestrogen is also commonly spelled estrogen, and it’s directly linked to hair loss and growth. This hormone binds to the receptors of your hair follicles to boost them through growth phases. High estrogen levels during pregnancy give many expecting women hair that is thicker and better looking than usual. Hair might thin gradually after menopause as estrogen levels drop. Birth-control pills can have an impact by extending resting phases.
Androgens and Testosterone
Dihydrotestosterone, also abbreviated as DHT, is the male sex hormone that can be involved in hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is the most common male hair loss. DHT can bind with androgen receptors on human hair follicles and activate them, but it can do so at such an extreme level as to imbalance things to the point of promoting hair loss instead of growth.
Cortisol
Levels of cortisol increase with stress, anxiety, fear, and worry. Chronic stress and sudden distress can spike cortisol to levels that stop hair growth. This condition is called telogen effluvium when hair follicles prematurely enter their resting phase. Many of the associated hairs might fall out as a result.
Insulin
A growing number of Americans are diagnosed every year with either prediabetes or diabetes itself. Insulin resistance is a part of this. That not only speeds up hair loss but also slows hair growth down. People with this condition might lose their hair faster than normal.
Human Growth Hormone
The pituitary gland in your body makes HGH, which drives growth in kids and teens. However, even adults still rely on it to regulate cardiovascular functions, metabolism, tissue growth, bodily fluids, and overall physical composition. Does HGH cause hair loss or hair growth? Low levels of HGH can have a multitude of effects on both hair growth and loss. You should have your HGH levels tested and measured if you want healthy hair. Normalize them if necessary.
Thyroid Disorders and Hair Thinning and Loss
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can both result in hair loss if the cases are prolonged and severe. Hair loss in these cases is diffuse and would impact the whole scalp instead of just particular areas, and all your hair might be consistently sparse. Successful treatment of your thyroid disorder should encourage regrowth, but it might take months to become physically noticeable.
Nutrients That Boost Hair Health
The nutrients you consume through food and beverages impact hair growth and health just as much as the hormones inside your body. They include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fats.
Vitamins
Vitamins prevent free radical damage and premature graying while assisting cell growth and follicle nourishment. Look for these in particular:
- Biotin: Vitamin B7 stimulates keratin to boost follicle growth.
- Vitamin A: This vitamin produces sebum for scalp moisturization.
- Vitamin C: Antioxidants and collagen are both necessary for scalp health.
- Vitamin D: Deficiency is this vitamin promotes hair loss, especially in older individuals.
- Vitamin E: This vitamin is another antioxidant powerhouse.
Minerals
Minerals are micronutrients vital to hair growth in terms of hair follicles and healthy levels of cellular turnover. Specific minerals you need include:
- Iodine
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Zinc
Fats
Essential fatty acids, and omega-3s in particular, are crucial to the health of your nails, hair, and skin. You can get these through food, and it’s good to do so daily. Fatty fish, mackerel, tuna, and salmon are all good sources.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins that comprise most of your hair’s chemical structure. Cysteine is one amino acid that alone accounts for 18 percent of the structural protein keratin that makes up hair. Lysine is a second essential amino acid that substantially impacts your hair’s integrity, but you need enough iron intake for it to happen.
Help Is Available for Some
Many treatment options can help you regrow and restore your hair to a healthy state. One of them is HGH therapy for those who qualify. We don’t work with children or bodybuilders, but we do help adults diagnosed with hormone deficiency. You’ll need a formal blood test to qualify for the prescription. Fill out our form for more information and to get the process started.
