Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder that can cause a range of symptoms, including hirsutism, which is excess facial and body hair, but it can also result in hair loss in some cases. Today, Dr. Minni Malhotra is answering this question from Katie: Why does polycystic ovarian syndrome cause hair loss? Dr. Malhotra goes through some of the causes of PCOS, recognized as the most common endocrine disorder in women of a reproductive age around the world, and addresses female pattern hair loss versus hair loss due to hyperandrogenism, which is the case for those with PCOS. She talks about symptoms, treatments, and coping mechanisms, and offers a range of things that you can do to lower androgens, decrease testosterone levels, and reduce insulin resistance, using the seven pillar approach. Tune in to find out more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Female pattern hair loss versus androgenetic alopecia – find out what type of hair loss it is.
• Some of the treatments for hair loss due to hyperandrogenism.
• Hair loss can cause psychological distress in women, because it is essential to socially accepted ides of femininity, beauty, and sexuality.
• Coping mechanisms that women adopt – compensation, concealment, and reassurance.
• Solutions to lower androgens, and reduce testosterone and insulin resistance are important.
• Diet helps manage high insulin levels – add foods rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants.
• The seven pillar approach: nutrition, fitness, stress management, detoxification, hormone optimization, immune health and gut health
• Managing stress is key, and introducing meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga can help.
• Having PCOS makes you more prone to developing diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Increased fiber in your diet will bind to testosterone and remove it from your system.
• Taking multivitamins, probiotics, vitamin D, chromium, and magnesium will help to improve insulin resistance.

Tweetables:

“Women’s hair is essential to femininity, beauty, and sexuality. Hair loss can be distressing for males, but it’s a social acceptance and understanding this phenomenon actually allows normal psychological function but, in contrast, female pattern hair loss is not expected and less understood by society, generating feelings of confusion, distress for women.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:03:03]

“If you are looking for a quick fix, then yes, sometimes prescriptions can give you a quick fix but, unless you correct your underlying hormonal imbalance, you’re not going to get the results that you desire.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:07:14]

“Yes, you could have a genetic predisposition to get polycystic ovarian syndrome, but you still have the ability to actually change your health, using the functional medicine approach.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:08:29]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

Androgen Excess and PCOS Society

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email