Contraceptive or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can cause Hair Loss!

Cause Hair Loss!
When women lose hair, they lose more than just that – they lose their sense of confidence and as if something has gone missing from their personality. However, in order to treat hair loss, it is crucial that the inherent cause is deciphered first. There are two causes, which might not be the most common causes for hair loss in women, but certainly are seen in women, all over the world. These are PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and oral contraceptives.

Let us look at Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome first:

Also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome or hyperandrogenic anovulation, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that is one of the most common disorders of the endocrine system. Although the exact reason is yet to be uncovered, the condition is often considered to be genetic. Some of the most common symptoms of the condition include irregular menstrual cycles, acne lesions on the face, constant fatigue, increase in weight, increase in facial hair, but decrease in hair on the head!

What actually happens in this condition is that there is an increase in the production of androgen, which is the male hormone. Androgen plays with the menstrual cycle, and the frequency as well as quantity of the bleeding is altered. This leads to the skin becoming oily and more prone to acne, as well as the loss of hair. If your hair follicles are overly sensitive to androgens, there is a greater chance of hair loss and unfortunately, this is a condition that is genetically gained.

Your doctor will prescribe you the appropriate medications depending on your symptoms, however there are a few tips on lifestyle modification to make things a little more smooth sailing:

• Your diet is extremely important in such a condition, which is why you need to meet your doctor and have a proper diet chart etched out. You will have to incorporate a lot of green vegetables into your diet, while cutting out all unhealthy fats. Omega fatty acids are good, which means that you can include fish in your diet. You also need to understand how best to balance the intake of proteins as well as carbohydrates. It is also advisable that you steer clear of foods that are high on environmental toxins. So, try to eat foods that are organic, stay away from processed foods and dishes which have artificial colours or flavourings.
• There are several natural supplements that you can include in your diet, and these are meant to ensure that you have sufficient vitamins, minerals and biotin in your body. While there are plenty of over the counter supplements, it is best that you talk to your doctor first and take a proper prescription.
• While eating properly is important, it is also critical that you exercise, because physical activity will help with the reduction of testosterone, which in turn will reduce the hair loss as well.
• Stress is not good for your hair or for your PCOS, which is why you need to make sure that you keep the same under check at all times. When you are stressed the levels of cortisol hike up and this is not a good sign for your hair. Studies have shown that women who were able to keep a check on their stress levels saw their hair returning to normal within a few months.

Moving onto oral contraceptives:

For years, women all over the world have been using oral contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. But oral contraceptives can be a double edged weapon when it comes to hair loss, which is why it is important that you talk to your doctor before you start popping these tiny pills. Certain OCPs are used to treat hair loss and other symptoms of hyperandrogenic conditions like PCOD, while some other pills are the culprits for producing hair fall. Hair loss because of contraceptives is often linked to genes – if your hair follicles are overly sensitive, they will become even more delicate, once you start a course of certain oral contraceptives.

Most typically birth control pills have two types of hormones – progestin and oestrogen. Estrogens usually are good for hair growth, while certain progestins like levonorgestrel, gestidone and norethisterone with higher androgenic actions causes hair fall. OCPs can cause hair fall by different mechanisms. The pills with higher androgen actions can exaggerate female pattern baldness and cause hair fall. However, these effects are more only if you are genetically predisposed to androgen sensitive follicles. In addition, in certain women, there is a temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium, which happens only when they stop taking the oral contraceptive or change the type they have been taking. This happens, because there is a sudden decline in the oestrogen levels in the body.

There are also certain pills like Yasmin, Diane which have anti-androgenic effects that are used in the treatment of hair fall and other symptoms of hyperandrogenism seen in PCOD and other similar conditions.

So a better awareness of the type of OCP is important before you start taking them.

The hair care procedures for both conditions are quite similar:

Try not to tie your hair up in very tight styles. The tightness will strain the hair follicles, making them even more susceptible to breakage. If you are fond of perming your hair or styling them with colours or bleach, you might want to avoid the same, as they add strain to your already frail hair. Stay away from hair products that have sulphate or alcohol, because you need to maintain the natural oils of your hair.

Washing your hair daily might be your habit, but it is yet another way of washing away the natural oils and making your hair dry and delicate. When you do wash, remember to use only lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo. You could even try shampoos that are meant for infants. It would be wise to oil your hair with warm natural oils, before you shampoo and leave the oil for about half an hour.