9 Natural PCOS Hair Loss Treatment Ideas
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition where the patient has two or more of the following diagnostic criteria elevated androgens (testosterone / DHEA), polycystic ovaries found on ultrasound, and/or anovulatory cycles (irregular periods). One of the common symptoms of PCOS is head hair loss. When the female hair follicle becomes minimized, this increases the terminal follicle and the strand will fall out resulting in hair loss.
High androgen levels can promote hair loss because of the increased production of DHT or Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is made from a reaction between testosterone and the enzyme dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA. DHT is an opponent of hair follicles and the more it is produced the more it will create hair loss and minimize the hair follicle. High levels of testosterone, an indicator of PCOS, will catalyze this reaction to form DHT and therefore lose hair. Luckily there are natural remedies that can rebalance androgen levels back down to normal to hopefully aid in less hair loss.
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Here are 9 Natural hair loss PCOS treatment ideas:
1. NAC
NAC stands for N-Acetyl Cysteine, which is the supplemental form of cysteine, an amino acid in our body that helps us produce a powerful antioxidant, glutathione. Many women with PCOS also struggle with blood sugar imbalances which cause high insulin levels. When insulin gets too high in the blood it signals the ovaries to produce more testosterone, and this causes hair loss. Luckily, NAC helps to improve the body’s insulin response which will lower testosterone naturally and help to protect egg quality. This supplement can also improve ovulation and pregnancy rates for those with PCOS which improves ovulation and regulates periods. Because NAC helps with all 3 possible diagnostic criteria for PCOS, this is why NAC is a natural hair loss PCOS treatment idea.
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2. MYO-INOSITOL
Another one of the natural hair loss PCOS treatment ideas is a vitamin B-like compound, Myo-Inositol. This supplement has been shown to improve egg development and quality, and improve insulin sensitivity. Due to the insulin effect, Myo-inositol can balance blood sugar, which results in lower testosterone levels. Though it can be supplemented, Myo-inositol is found naturally in fruits like cantaloupe and citrus, but also in beans, brown rice, and other fiber-rich foods. Restoring all these mechanisms allows inositol to help regulate hormone levels which is important as a hair loss PCOS treatment.
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3. REISHI
Red Reishi is a mushroom, or adaptogen, that helps the body adapt to stress. It has also been shown to be a hair loss PCOS treatment because it can help to lower androgens like testosterone, making it a great treatment for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels in those with hirsutism. Blood sugar imbalance causes a high insulin concentration in the blood which can signal the ovaries to produce more testosterone. A study looking at the anti-androgenic effects of 19 mushrooms, found that Reishi mushrooms had the strongest effect inhibiting testosterone. Reishi has been shown to reduce an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which aids in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As we know, high DHT levels are associated with hair loss.
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4. MELATONIN
Another one of the hair loss PCOS treatment ideas is taking melatonin. Melatonin is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, and it aids in reducing hair loss PCOS because cortisol (our stress hormone) is a precursor for DHEA, one of our androgens. High stress means more DHEA resulting in hair loss. Sleep and stress work hand in hand when you do not have enough quality or quantity of sleep, your stress levels can go out of balance. In the morning, we should get a burst of cortisol to motivate us to get out of bed, and as the day goes on our cortisol levels will decline so we feel calm and sleepy by night time. When you get a low amount of sleep, or if your sleep schedule is shifted (meaning you go to sleep late into the night and wake up later into the morning) this can delay your cortisol levels, causing low cortisol in the morning and then a gradual increase in cortisol as the day continues.
The way it affects ovulation is also an important relationship because melatonin can decrease oxidative stress due to antioxidant properties to protect and promote egg maturation. In addition, melatonin has a positive effect on progesterone, our pregnancy-promoting hormone. Promoting healthy reproductive hormone levels is a great hair loss PCOS treatment.
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5. VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is one of the essential fat-soluble vitamins necessary for bone density, but it can also help to lower testosterone naturally as one of the hair loss PCOS treatment ideas. Vitamin D is best synthesized from the sun, but in the winter months in a cloudy climate, it is essential to supplement because vitamin D is not very abundant in many food sources. Vitamin D paired with evening primrose rose oil may help to regulate your menstrual cycle and help promote ovulation, making it a great supplement to lower testosterone. Additionally, vitamin D can help improve the development of the ovarian follicles which hold the egg inside. This is because a deficiency in vitamin D was found to interrupt the estrogen system and reduce the production of AMH (anti-mullerian hormone). This hormone is made by developing ovarian follicles.
6. SPEARMINT TEA
Spearmint Tea is another hair loss PCOS treatment, particularly for those dealing with elevated testosterone levels. Studies show that spearmint tea helps to decrease free testosterone levels and increase luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone, and estradiol in those with PCOS. Due to spearmint tea’s ability to inhibit testosterone, it can help to restore follicular development in the ovarian tissue and decrease hair loss.
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7. TURMERIC
Another hair loss PCOS treatment idea is turmeric. The active component of turmeric is called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can be a complication in women with PCOS because of elevated testosterone levels. Due to this, turmeric is beneficial to reduce the inflammation that can increase stress and blood sugar imbalances. Another study also supported the effects that turmeric can lower testosterone naturally in women with PCOS.
8. CINNAMON
Cinnamon is another hair loss PCOS treatment idea. Cinnamon extract and plain cinnamon are both shown to improve insulin sensitivity by lowering fasting blood glucose, making it a wonderful natural supplement to lower testosterone naturally and reduce hair loss.
Additionally, it was found that cinnamon has great properties to help women manage PCOS by regulating menstrual cycles and ovulation. As a result, this can help to lower testosterone naturally which positively impacts hair loss and PCOS.
9. SAW PALMETTO
Native to the eastern regions of the US, saw palmetto is another plant that is one of the hair loss PCOS treatment ideas. A study found that saw palmetto is a great natural remedy to reduce testosterone by inhibiting the 5 alpha-reductase pathway. Androgens either use the 5 alpha or 5 beta pathway. The 5 alpha pathway helps to convert testosterone into DHT which can cause acne and PCOS. Using the 5-alpha pathway means that you can be up to 3x more symptomatic than if you are favoring the 5-beta pathway. This is why even if your testosterone or DHEA are significantly elevated, but you are favoring the alpha over the beta, then you can still experience PCOS symptoms like hair loss
