A PCOS diagnosis brings with it many embarrassing symptoms. Women who suffer from PCOS have a hormone imbalance, they produce an excess amount of androgen (testosterone). This therefore means they can suffer from symptoms which men experience, such as male pattern hair loss.
What causes hair loss?All women have a small amount of testosterone, however as mentioned above, women who have PCOS have a higher level of testosterone.It is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which causes hair loss, not the amount of testosterone as scientists once thought(1). DHT is the result of excess testosterone production. Testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone, with the help of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in a hair follicle's oil glands. Elevated concentrations of DHT can be observed in approximately 35% with PCOS(2).DHT attaches itself onto the hair follicles and shrinks it, affecting the hair, eventually to the point of hair loss. It also stops the follicle from producing new hair, essentially creating a clogged follicle.
Treatment
Natural Herbs and Oils
Saw palmetto is a natural herbal treatment for hair loss as it prevents testosterone from being converted to DHT.Peppermint Oil A study has shown Peppermint oil induced very thick and long hair after 4-week topical application and promoted the elongation of hair follicles from the epidermis down to the subcutis in a vertical section(3.)Jojoba Oil is found to generate hair regrowthN-acetyl Cysteine (NAC)-helps in reducing testosterone levels (4).
Vitamins and Supplements
Vitamin B (B12)- a deficiency in B12 results in hair growth slowing down or stopping and existing hair begins to fall out.Zinc- a zinc deficiency can cause the protein structure of hair follicles to deteriorate causing the hair's structural integrity to weaken.Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that can help open the hair follicles, resulting in hair regrowth.Evening primrose oil - GLA found in evening primrose oil has the properties to help prevent hair loss.Biotin or Vitamin B7
Sources(1)http://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/causes_of_hair_loss.asp(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171668/(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/(4)http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateBestAminoAcidsforHairloss7-11.html
Visit http://www.pcosandnutrition.com to find out more about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Source: What causes hair loss?
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