12. Hormones are not related to hair loss
TRUE: Although hormonal imbalance can cause temporary hair loss, as is common with women after pregnancy, the important thing to remember is that the hair will grow back.
That cant be right, otherwise why do women with PCOS who have hormone problems lose hair? Is it just the PCOS or other factors? I read on another site that in order for one to lose hair from PCOS they must have a genetic disposition for it. True or False?
Hormones can DEFINITELY cause hairloss. We have adrogen receptors on our scalp, and some people have more sensitive receptors than others (thanks to genetics). This explains why some men lose scalp hair and others do not. Hairloss appears more common in men because they naturally have higher levels of androgens/testosterone.
Many women with PCOS also lose hair (myself included ) because of increased androgens/testosterone.
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That is absolute rubbish - that HORMONES do not cause hairloss.
Not only is that not correct but hormones or "sensitivity to hormones, mainly testosterone" are the MAIN reason why both MEN and WOMEN lose hair and permanently. (there are some other reasons such as malnutrition and autoimmun diseases but we are not talking about them).
Both men and women have hair follicles which are either "sensitive" to testosterone /DHT, or not really so sensitive to it. You genetically inherit this trait. Even brothers and sisters can be different. Its the luck of the draw. GEnetics is complex.
That is why some men go bald or have thinning hair and others don't. Its not that the bald ones have any more testosterone than the thick haired ones (some people still think that, that bald or men with thin hair are more virile - not true).
It is the same with women = however in women for most of their lives we have the female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) which balance out the affect of testosterone, plus the fact that "normal" women have ALOT LESS TESTOSTERONE than men.
So what happpens is - women with PCOS have higher levels of free testosterone - we are mainly looking at Free Testostereon as this is the one which affects skin and hair follicles.
Alot of people including myself have NORMAL testosterone in general but the free testosterone is raised.
For example: Mine is 14 but normal is between 1 and 8.
So therefore PCOS women who have "sensitive hair follilcles" to testosterone... once the PCOS kicks in and their FREE TESTOSTERONE starts to rise.. they lose scalp hair.. similar and if not for the same reason as a man = TESTOSTERONE SENSITIVITY. Unfortunately this is normally permanent so its important to catch PCOS early. Its not like we say to men in their 20's and 30s who are thinning... oh it wont' be permanent, it will grow back don't worry. Its the same with women. I wish it wasn't as I am in this situation now. I have tried for close to 4 years to be diaganosed and have only just been successful. Have just started metformin today which I am hoping will reduce my free testosterone ie Androgens.
These same women and girls (PCOS women) are likely to have brothers, fathers, uncles... male grandparents, with "Thinning hair"... its in their genes. For both men and women its called 'ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA OR AGA.
However if a PCOS girl is "not sensitive to Testosterone" and for example her father and brother and grandfather on each side have full heads of hair at 40 50 60 (its natural to have a bit of age related thinning and for women after menopause) - she is not likely to have scalp hair loss as even though her free testosterone has risen more than is normal for a women, its not even as high as a man still and the males in her family still havent' lost their hair due their testosterone. So genetically their hair follicles are not sensitive to Testosterone. Male or Female.
I hope you understand what I have tried to explain in a really simple way. Hormones are very complex and some people who know a lot about it will find my explanantion very simple but I'm not an endocrinologist but trying to explain so people understand.
My twin brother has had thinningh hair since mid 20s, so has my uncle on mothers side and his father (my grandfather).
My dad is 66 with a full head of hair. My mother missed the genes and is in her early 60's with a full head of hair. I am jealous.
As I said the "genes" we inherit are the luck of the draw. Its like lotterry.
I hope somebody finds this interesting. I do as my have lost over 50% of my hair due to high free testosterone levels probably starting in mid 20's.
I think people not affected by hairloss with thick heads of hair would probably find my post very boring..
When I had thick hair - I took it for granted and would never have fully understood how devasting hair loss is for a women and to men as well. But its worse for Women as men's hair loss is considered normal and hair is considered a main feature for a woman - like it or not. That is our society.
Heralopecia is a great website for women who have thinning hair.
Its similar to this board with lost of supportive women going through the same problem. (For different reasons but most from Androgenetic Alopecia) which is what I just described above.
Hormones not related to hair loss? 
) because of increased androgens/testosterone.
