7 Factors in Hair Loss for Women with PCOS

by Amy Medling, founder of PCOS Diva

Seeing your hair fall, even after you have been using that promising new product that you bought can be devastating. I’ve met women with PCOS who tried every product out there to stop hair thinning and/or hair loss. But you really need to understand your hair in order to give it what it needs.

Think of your hair like a garden. If the soil is fertile, the result will be beautiful grass with pretty flowers; if the soil is dry and doesn’t have enough nutrients, the grass won’t be as green and there will be some dry areas. That is the same thing that happens with your hair and scalp. At the end, what matters is what happens underneath the surface.

Even if hair loss in women with PCOS due to hormonal imbalance is not uncommon, there are other factors to consider which, when gotten back on track, will help get your hair health back.

Some of the factors include:

1) Inflammation

Excess inflammation in the body interferes with the absorbency of nutrients and overall body functions. By reducing inflammation, you will be better at ridding your body of toxins and keeping the cycles in your body more in tune, which contribute to the growth and strengthening of your hair.

2) Health Conditions

Some conditions such as PCOS, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, adrenal fatigue, among others, can slow down your thyroid, which is the master switch that creates some of the hormones that are necessary for hair growth.

3) Chemicals

Commercial hair care and styling products include a slew of chemicals that disrupt your hormones, clog pores, and damage hair follicles. Switching to 100% natural hair care will not only give you better results, it won’t damage or hinder hair growth. Look for products that are free of parabens, gluten, sulfate, silicone and any endocrine disrupting chemical, plus, free of soy and gluten. I use Morrocco Method They wildcraft organic and raw ingredients to deliver products that help rejuvenate, restore, revitalize and renew hair and scalp. I started using their products in 2015, and after 7 months I experienced lots of regrowth and improvement in the way my hair feels and looks. I also do a gentle detox at least twice a year to purge all of the endocrine disrupting chemicals that have built up thorough environmental contact. Not only do these toxins make my hair thin, they worsen all my PCOS symptoms.

4) Stress

When an unfortunate event happens, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, making vital organs a priority and neglecting external tissue such as skin, hair and nails. That is why during these times the scalp may get dryer, the hair may fall out more, and nails may become brittle. Once this period is over, your hair will get back its shine and moisture.

5) Genetics

If there is a hair loss pattern in your family, chances are you may experience alopecia in your later years. Even if this is not reversible, you can make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle to slow down the process.

6) Tension

Tight pony tails, extensions, and other tight hairstyles can create enough tension to damage the follicle. Letting your hair down, loose braids or buns are a safer alternative that will not pull and damage your strands.

7) Diet

Not having enough nutrients in your diet can wreak havoc on your hair health. Opt for whole foods packed with B Vitamins, Protein, Folate, Iron, Zinc, and Copper.

Our hair has a cycle, and any of the aforementioned factors can easily disrupt them. Most of the time this alteration to the cycle can be temporary. What will define its duration is the time taken between finding the root cause and taking the necessary steps to fix it.

Amy Medling, best-selling author of Healing PCOS and certified health coach, specializes in working with women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), who are frustrated and have lost all hope when the only solution their doctors offer is to lose weight, take a pill, and live with their symptoms. In response, Amy founded PCOS Diva and developed a proven protocol of supplements, diet, and lifestyle programs that offer women tools to help gain control of their PCOS and regain their fertility, femininity, health, and happiness.