How to Stop Hair Loss from Birth Control
Many women who choose to partake in going off birth control can often go through a difficult transition phase because now their body has to relearn how to secrete the proper hormones on its own.
Hair loss from birth control is a common symptom for those who have made the decision to transition off of hormonal birth control. This can occur after stopping birth control due to something called androgen rebound. This is when your androgen levels can raise and even become elevated after being suppressed by the pill. Your androgens are your testosterone, DHEA, DHT. Increasing androgens cause hair loss because DHT is an opponent of hair follicles and the more it is produced the more it will create hair loss and decrease the size of the hair follicle.
Source: Birth Control Book
Hair loss may even be a symptom for those on hormonal birth control, depending on the type.
Certain types of birth control can have androgenic properties:
It can depend on the type of birth control you are on - combination pills (artificial estrogen & progesterone - actually progestins), about 10 different types of progestins created from different molecules grouped into four families or generations. Many of these are synthesized from testosterone - so these progestins act like progesterone in some ways - binding to progesterone receptors to block ovulation, but ALSO to testosterone receptors. And here's where skin or hair issues can come in - if this is plugging into the testosterone receptor this can contribute to testosterone-related symptoms like breakouts and/or unwanted hair growth or hair loss.
Here are 3 ways to stop hair loss from birth control:
1. Patience
Patience is the most important element for how to stop hair loss from birth control. Hair grows very slowly, on average a half-inch per month is the norm. Being patient is vital because if you stress too much about anxiously waiting for your hair to grow then the stress can even increase the waiting time. Stress is a precursor for increasing DHEA levels, so be patient, let your hair take its course on regrowing.
2. Uncover Your Drivers (how each driver can contribute to hair loss)
-High Androgens
High androgens are one root factors for uncovering how to stop hair loss from birth control. As mentioned, hair loss is driven by the increasing levels of DHT, which is created by the conversion of testosterone and DHEA. These two androgens, at high levels, will create high levels of DHT. Blood sugar imbalances drive testosterone levels up, and stress drives DHEA levels up.
Source: Birth Control Book
-Low Thyroid
Low thyroid is another one of the factors to look into for discovering how to stop hair loss from birth control. Having a low thyroid or hypothyroidism, can elicit a stress response in the body or can be caused by high stress. The thyroid is a gland in our throat that needs to release hormones to maintain a stable metabolism among other things. If these hormones are not released as frequently as they should, then this is called low thyroid or in more intense situations, hypothyroidism. Low thyroid and high prolactin have a connection to what causes low progesterone. Our body will try to stimulate more thyroid output, so additional hormones in the brain, specifically the hypothalamus, will be released to try to generate more thyroid hormones. These hormones, unfortunately, can also increase prolactin production and will therefore decrease progesterone. Low progesterone and high stress can cause an increase in androgens leading to hair loss.
Source: 9846161
-Gut Issues
Gut issues are another issue that can contribute when discovering how to stop hair loss from birth control. Our gut health controls how we absorb and digest food. If we are not digesting our food well and absorbing nutrients properly, then we won’t have the building blocks we need for producing our hormones or our mood chemicals.
Also, our gut is so interconnected with estrogen metabolism. If we’re struggling with constipation then we’re not clearing estrogen as we should and it can recirculate. Also, beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme that plays a role in digestion, but when elevated can unpackage estrogen where it can recirculate leading to elevated estrogen levels. This coupled with the internal stress response from going off birth control can lead to hair loss.
Healing the gut to support going off birth control utilizes the clearing of anything that shouldn’t be there (like bacterial overgrowth, candida, pathogens, viruses, etc.), supporting digestion with stomach acid support/digestive enzymes, healing the gut lining, repopulating the gut with good bacteria, and rebalancing the stress response. All of these outcomes will heal your body when going off birth control.
Source: 26658991
-Low Zinc
Low zinc is another one of the root causes to discover when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. Zinc is a mineral we get from food. It helps to grow and repair tissues, supports the immune system, and is required for the function of enzymes.
Zinc has been shown to help improve PMS symptoms, thyroid function, help with avoiding hair loss, and is crucial for stable moods so it can be helpful if you experience anxiety.
Zinc helps to stop hair loss because it can block excess testosterone by functioning as a natural androgen blocker which can decrease DHT, promote ovulation, and balance the stress response.
Source: 26987302
-Inflammation
Inflammation is also important to understand when you are learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. Inflammation is triggered when going off birth control because the body is going through large hormonal imbalances which causes an internal stress response leading to an increase in inflammatory markers in the blood. Hair loss can be caused by inflammation because hormone levels become imbalanced.
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-Low B Vitamins
Since B vitamins are so important for hormonal function. It’s vital to understand the impacts of low B vitamins when you are learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. Vitamin B6 and B12 can help to balance estrogen and progesterone levels and adrenal function, which regulates cortisol, our stress hormone. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced when proteins are broken down, but at elevated levels, it is called hyperhomocysteinemia which is damaging. These high levels are not good for the body because it can degrade the arterial lining, and increase stress levels. Increasing stress levels can cause more hair loss.
-Cortisol Imbalances
Cortisol imbalances are another one of the important factors to uncover when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. As mentioned, high cortisol levels can increase DHEA production leading to more DHT and hair loss. Knowing if your cortisol levels are stable is important when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control.
Source: NIH
-Blood Sugar Imbalances
Blood sugar imbalances are a precursor to high testosterone levels. When blood sugar is imbalanced, you will have increased insulin levels. This insulin can signal to the ovaries to produce more testosterone, resulting in increased DHT and hair loss.
Source:16353672
-Low Fatty Acids
Low fatty acids are another one of the levels to look into when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. Fatty acids, specifically omega 3s are very helpful in improving hormone balance. Omega 3s have antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation and free radicals. They also can increase luteinizing hormone (LH), which can then boost progesterone production. In addition, omega 3s are very helpful in increasing hair growth specifically the DHA form of the fatty acid.
FREE AFTER BIRTH CONTROL 5-DAY MEAL PLAN:
3. Correct Your Underlying Causes
-High Androgens
Test your androgen levels to see if you are high in testosterone, DHEA, or both. Look into anti-androgen supplements to help naturally decrease your levels. Reishi, licorice, white peony, green tea, zinc, NAC, and saw palmetto.
-Low Thyroid
For low thyroid, you can work on healing any gut issues and adjusting stressors to better manage them. Supplements/nutrients to include in your diet to produce more thyroid hormones are vitamin A, selenium, iron, vitamin D, and zinc.
-Gut Issues
Gut issues can be identified by diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation. These issues meant you may be having issues digesting or absorbing the nutrients from your food which leaves your hair less healthy because it needs nutrients to grow. To improve gut health include fiber sources throughout your day at every meal if you can. Great fiber sources include oatmeal, beans, fruit, and brown rice. Drinking plenty of water is another sure way to increase absorption and decrease constipation. In addition, prebiotics and probiotics can help improve gut bacteria to aid in digestion. These sources include sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, garlic, onion, leeks, and asparagus.
-Low Zinc
Zinc is also important when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. It helps to improve many metabolic processes in the body including hormone balance which will help hair grow. Zinc food sources include oysters, pumpkin seeds, grass-fed beef, chickpeas, dark chocolate, cashews, and yogurt.
-Inflammation
Inflammation is another issue to look into when learning how to stop hair loss from birth control. The liver needs to be supported in order to minimize inflammation because the liver has a vital role in hormone metabolism and detoxification. Ways to aid the liver include: eating cruciferous vegetables, turmeric, green veggies, take Epsom salt baths, and try castor oil packs.
-Low B Vitamins
B vitamins play a major role in hormone balance, so making sure your levels are high is crucial. Food sources high in B vitamins include avocado, banana, sesame seeds, turkey, grass-fed beef, pistachios, and salmon.
-Cortisol Imbalances
Cortisol is the stress hormone that when imbalanced, can negatively affect all other hormones in the body making them operate in ways that oppose their natural function. Ways to improve cortisol levels include meditation, Epsom salt baths, consuming enough magnesium, reducing caffeine, mindful movement, balancing blood sugar, and adaptogens.
-Blood Sugar Imbalances
Blood sugar imbalances occur when you are not eating consistently throughout the day when you eat naked carbohydrate meals, or when you are insulin resistant. We want our blood sugar to stay at a stable level throughout the day without large peaks and dips. When blood sugar is imbalanced, you will feel more lethargic, hungry, and stressed throughout the day. To improve blood sugar, try to eat more often throughout the day, and eat at each meal a protein, fat, and fiber source.
-Low Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Lastly, omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for hormone balance and are very important to learn about when discovering how to stop hair loss from birth control. Foods high in omega 3s are salmon, tuna, cod liver oil, algae, walnuts, and trout.
