Most people jump straight into treatments for hair loss without asking themselves what really causes it. There’s always a cause and effect relationship when it comes to hormones, and it’s crucial to understand the role hormones play in hair loss. I’ll break it down simply for you. Here are six hormone-related scenarios that might be affecting your hair.

1. Cortisol: The Stress Hormone

Cortisol, the hormone related to stress, can cause hair loss in two ways:

Low Cortisol: A major loss situation occurs when your body undergoes stress or shock, which leads to a weakened immune system. This can result in alopecia, where you lose patches of hair.
High Cortisol: High levels destroy protein, leading to general hair loss, but not in patches.

2. Estrogen: Hormone Imbalance and Thyroid Suppression

When estrogen levels spike (during pregnancy, birth control use, or periods of estrogen dominance), your thyroid function is inhibited. This leads to hair loss. Increased estrogen equals decreased thyroid function, which can trigger hair thinning.

3. Postpartum Hair Loss: The Testosterone Surge

After pregnancy, your estrogen levels drop, which indirectly raises testosterone. This testosterone converts to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a form of testosterone that burns out your hair follicles. That’s why many women experience hair loss postpartum.

4. Insulin and Androgens: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

In women with insulin resistance, insulin converts to male hormones called androgens. This happens in PCOS, where you see facial hair growth but lose hair on your scalp. If you’re dealing with insulin resistance or pre-diabetic conditions, this is something to watch for.

5. Menopause: Low Estrogen, High Testosterone

Menopause triggers a decrease in estrogen, but testosterone levels don’t drop as much. This imbalance leads to higher DHT levels, causing hair loss during menopause—just like the postpartum scenario.

6. Thyroid Problems: The Deeper Connection

If you have hypothyroidism, you’re likely to lose hair, especially on the outer part of your eyebrows. The underlying cause could be a liver or gallbladder issue, preventing the proper conversion of thyroid hormones. Elevated estrogen can also block thyroid function, further contributing to hair loss.

And so…

Hormones are complicated, and hair loss is often a result of these imbalances. Whether it’s cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, insulin, or thyroid issues, knowing what’s affecting you is the first step in addressing the problem. You can take control once you understand which hormones are at play.