I'd be grateful if anyone can enlighten me to what is happening to my scalp.
I started having problems with my scalp hair at 44 I'm now 46 so very unlikely that I'm estrogen dominate.
Everything I read tells me estrogen is good for your hair. As it encourages growth and prolongs the growth stage.
I bought bio identical progesterone and estrogen. I did well with the progesterone as its a natural testosterone blocker I guess my scalp is testosterone sensitive due to an imbalance of hormone at my age. It really stopped the hair fall but didn't encourages growth.
So I thought I must need estrogen too!
My scalp was very itchy when I use estrogen and hair fall is dramatic. Hair I would normally loose in a week I lost in a few days. Also appeared to be male pattern baldness.
Obviously I stopped using it.
My GP recently prescribed elleste 1mg. A few days using the estrogen part of the and the same thing happened.
Now my scalp looks very patchy and it's difficult to part it.
Does anyone know why this is happening with estrogen.
Thanks for reading.
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Karen154
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I don't know if this will help, but ive taken thyroid meds since i was about 42 (synthroid) and my hair still was normal looking back at pictures, Im 62 now...What did make my hair get awful thin was going through menopause( i was menopaused at 53 and a half)...I cant remember what that does to your estrogen, but menopause sure screwed up my hair..
Sadly, we are all charter members of a club we never wanted to join. I would venture to say there aren't too many of us that have escaped the toll that thyroid disease can wreak on our hair.😞
Estrogen is tricky to deal with. It's not something you want to go supplementing (tablet or cream) unless you have test results showing you have a deficiency.
Even taking menopause into account, in the chemical laden world we live in, the general rule of thumb is to assume you are estrogen dominant until you have proof you aren't.
Many factors effect hair growth, of which sex hormone balance is but one of the important pieces of the puzzle.
Estrogen dominance itself can cause hair loss. An estrogen/ progesterone imbalance (even within normal ranges) can be just as problematic. Even testosterone (in range) can be a problem if your body is converting it to DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) where too much of it is attaching to hair follicles.....It's just as depressing as it is overwhelming.
Where sex hormones are concerned, if possible, it's best to test and know your levels before you tinker with them, in my opinion. Especially when dealing with estrogen and something as important as your hair.
Knowing if nutrient/ thyroid levels are optimal would be beneficial, as they play a big role, as well.
In the meantime, you could try continuing with the progesterone cream (start low and slow) and try a shampoo with saw palmetto in it. Male pattern is indicative of a problem with DHT (which binds to hair follicle receptors and will in essence shrink them until the hair can't grow.) Saw palmetto purportedly blocks DHT.
That said, I am a fan of hormonal creams, as they can be very effective. I am also a proponent of self treatment, when the need arises. But, you have to do your research.
Saw Palmetto is also good for hormonal acne, so it figures that it should help. It seems to be targetted at men with inflamed prostate due to testosterone converting to DHT, but women have testosterone too even though for us we do not have inflammation of the prostate. It would be interesting to find out what triggers this conversion and how to prevent it. I also have read that Milk Thistle blocks androgen receptors so that could help with hair loss. According to some women it helps quite a lot.
With it's regenerative properties, I can see how Milk Thistle could be helpful topically for the hair. Sylmarin (Milk Thistle) and Saw Palmetto can be found together in many shampoo formulations for thinning hair. The reasoning is that by using topically they can be delivered directly where they are needed. I know quite a few people who swear by Saw Palmetto shampoos. In any case, I figure it's worth a try. Even if it doesn't work you still need a good, gentle shampoo.😊
I've been inspired to do some reading and found out about 5-alpha reductase being responsible for high DHT. No surprise that saw palmetto is an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase. Interestingly, so are zinc and green tea and riboflavin.
I was aware zinc was, but hadn't read about riboflavin and green tea being inhibitors, as well. Good to know.
Since progesterone seems to be a linchpin, I was perusing some articles and came across one (citing a pub med study) drawing a connection with estrogen dominance and the overactivity of an adrenal enzyme (aromatase) as a possible culprit for hair loss in some women (not only breast cancer, which was already established). And that progesterone was anti-aromatase. Quite interesting and possibly helpful for those whose hair loss is triggered by this.
You know, it's funny. I have always just been a nerd who loved to read science oriented stuff for entertainment.🤓 In a million years, I never imagined things could get to a point where my well being or even obtaining a proper treatment and outcome could possibly depend on it. I'm still a bit dumbstruck at the state of things. I don't know about you; but, since we are having to become our own doctors; I think we deserve a paycheck.😊
Mid forties is exactly the time when oestrogen dominance begins! Read up on peri-menopause... Balancing out hormones is the key to survival... can be done by direct replacement of progesterone, but also by supporting the adrenals and thyroid conversion. It will carry you through a lot better when forewarned. The best supplements include Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, P5P and B5.
Also you must have good iron as well as Ferritin levels, so ask for a full iron panel. Make sure you have a lot of good Omega fats with some Vitamin A and cut down on dairy products as these can block iron absorption and convert GLA into bad prostaglandins which can worsen PMS. There are herbs that can help too, but they all seem to come with contra indications, so be careful.. and do your research. However, milk thistle is pretty good as it supports the liver and I cannot say I have found problems with it at all. Liver support seems to be key to a lot of problems with autoimmune issues and milk thistle also contains linoleic acid which is a good EFA.
Milk thistle is said to help thyroid conversion due to it supporting the liver. The only thing is to take it away from iron supplements as they will not get absorbed. Best time to take it is with evening meals I find.
Thank you for that. I wondered why my Milk thistle tablets weren't doing their usual job. Now I know it's because I've started to take a course of iron at the same time. I will separate them from now on
However Milk thistle didn't stop my hair shedding considerably for a few weeks . Hence my starting iron incase it was that. It's stopped shedding now but no new growth as yet.
I also blame low iron as well, as do many trichologists, so that's a good starting point. The other problem with hair is that it has a kind of inbuilt clock (well it certainly does in dogs) and will always be lost at certain times of year. However, if it is a prolonged bout of shedding, something else must be going on for example anaemia, or too much DHT, or a lack of essential fatty acids.
Hey Karen had tests for multi food intolerances which has helped health. It was a new test from Germany with 64 foods tested through a pharmacy chain linked to NHS. It cost £70.
Since removing the numerous foods I can go out for a day without rushing to a loo.
Celiac tests are done through gastro intestinal specialists but they only test a limited range of foods such as dairy egg and wheat/gluten. It depends on your health authority.
Thank you for this. I could do with having E's dyes and preservative also tested. I've had a nasty reaction to a E in nhs medication. I asked for an allergy test for E's. I didn't achieve that with them. X
You can get environmental tests done separately through the same food allergy testing service through Alphega chain of chemists. Map location numbered click for individual details of services. Apparently some blue dye which has been banned in the US due to allergy is still being used in the UK for tests. Guess you are going to avoid E numbers and tartrazine, monosodium gluconate, ammonia sulphates .
I switched to Angeliq (1mg/2mg)instead of Estelle as the progesterone in Angeliq is an anti- androgen. If you are still having periods and no hot flushes, the contraceptive pill, Yasmin has the same anti- androgen with some estrogen. I have also been using I restore products including hat shampoo, tablets and gel with some success. Hair stopped shedding and there is substantial regrowth at 6 months - inches at front and new hairs in thin patches.
I take liothyronine and thyroxine post thyroidectomy, but hairloss came at transition peri menopause to menopause.
Thankyou for the info. I also had a part thyroidectomy but problems started mid life.
I've been to several GP In the practice. They don't understand hormone blood ranges so they don't if there is an imbalance or if I'd I'm dominate in one hormone.
I'm been told I'm not menopausal by two GPS. So asked for yasmin and told I couldn't have that either because of the estrogen in it and the risk at my age.
I had to cry and beg so he said he would try hrt but didn't write a prescription.
Four months later a another Gp in the practice write a prescription for hrt.
I don't really know which part of the pack is estrogen. I believed it was the was first part.
I would do some reading on natural hormones and get tested so you know your baselines before starting any supplementation (as you have then i’d be inclined to stop prior to obtain ‘clean’ levels). test via saliva not blood as more accurate
also understand difference between natural vs synthetic which is generally what docs prescribe and is not the same!
i found John Lee’s book really useful and easy to read/understand. also the natural progesterone info service and woman to woman are good sources of info
Actually the older you get the more probable that you are estrogen dominant. The point is that the ratio estrogen/progesterone tilts in favour of estrogene and you have less of the antagonist progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that you should supplement with ( the natural) and nor estrogen. Progesterone is good for bone and hair not estrogen.
Hi Karen, I am 49 and have really struggled with my hair over the last few years but I am pleased to say it is now back to normal. I literally tried everything but for me starting on bioidentical HRT prescribed by my doctor was the answer.(I did have to request a certain type - estradot patches and utrogestan capsules) I know some will prescribe the pill too as that provides the hormones. I clearly needed the additional hormones. As we age we lose our female hormones and become testosterone dominant which results in thinning hair. HRT has had a lot of bad press in the past but it’s now it can be regarded as beneficial against heart disease & osteoporosis. It basically keeps us young!
The paradoxical hairloss that you experienced
Is actually a very positive sign! It’s a bit like when you start on minoxidil you can have a shed because it is stimulating the growth of new hairs. This growth can only begin when the telogen hairs have fallen. The new anagen (growth stage) begins. I appreciate that it can also be super scary too. I am training to be a Trichologist and we have just learnt about the massive impact that hormones have on hair. i would def recommend all the blood tests mentioned (iron b12 vit d mag zinc etc) and then begin supplementing accordingly. Also crucial to get your Thyroid in order (I take T4 & tiny T3 supplement each day) Hope this helps. This alone didn’t sort out my hair though. Please feel free to message me if you would like any more advice. You sound like you are on the right path and I am sure you will get it sorted. Hairloss can be so traumatic but please know you are not alone and help is out there. Vikki. X
Yes hormones have a massive inpact on hair. When we are perimenopausal and after menopaus estrogen dominance is what makes our hair thinner. It's not a question how much estrogen you have but what the level is compared to progesterone. Insufficient progesterone puts our body in an inflammatory state that effects all life functions, thyroid function being a central one.
From what I've just been reading about male pattern hairloss it's the conversion of testosterone to DHT that's the problem, not testosterone itself - it gets a lot of bad press. Testosterone is good for serotonin levels and levels typically drop as people age - and too little can cause depression. The problem is with 5 alpha reductase levels. If men have too little they don't develop such 'male' characteristics, but too much can lead to baldness and prostate issues. Inhibitors of 5 alpha reductase can help men with prostate issues and balding, presumably the latter should also apply to us.
Sorry Karen, only just noticed your post about your struggle with the doctors at your surgery! It shouldn’t have to be so hard, should it? Let me know if you need anymore advice. Vikki. X
Hi Karen, There are many foods containing estrogen. It's not exactly the same as what the body makes. This man is quite renown when it comes to hormones and has several articles about estrogen. All of his articles are on the home page and he cuts through the propaganda of drug companies and tells us what researchers have proven.
Hi karen. So sorry about your hairloss. I went thru that to not just from menopause but high blood pressure will make u loss hair. Some medicine can also make you lose hair.
Hi Karen - I used phytoestrogen as I had menopausal symptoms of hot flushes. It did work.
Have you tried a moisturising shampoo - such as Dove ? That flaky skin must be uncomfortable. Evening primrose is a useful supplement for women. Evening primrose oil or serum can be good for the skin. Have heard of a hair stimulating cream Regaine for women works to help hair grow, but once you stop using it the hair may not regrow. Guess you need to wait until your scalp is better before you try anything else.
Hi thanks for your reply. I've tried shampoos aroma therapy oils and vitamin in my shampoo as well as orally .The evening primrose supplement seemed to through my thyroid out and I had over active symptoms. Literally in the space of a few days I had patches on my scalp. Xx
I'm really having a lot of menopause symptoms. Just the fatigue and hair loss also dryness has started and the very odd night night sweet but not dripping in sweet. Xx
Hyperactive thyroid can affect your skin as you know - if you have other thyroid disease such as Hashimotos, you get fluctuation in hypo and hyper symptoms. Other immune disorders can be linked with thyroid such as vitiligo, eczema. Glad you have specialist help.
Is any one aware of a hrt patch which contains estrogen and progesterone.
I've noticed when I used the bio identical creams together the itch and hair loss subsides. I think I need a small dose if estrogen but mainly progesterone.
I'm keen to try a patch as tablets are hard in the liver and not as many side-effects with the patch. Less risk if stroke ect.
The problem with progesterone is that it doesn't stimulate hair growth. It's just proves the loss.
I want something to kick start my hair growing again and improve the quality of new hair as regrowth is weaker.
I take zinc collagen vitamin b complex folio acid liquid iron and cortisol support. The iron has helped but that's a different pattern of hair loss.
The rest has done nothing to promote hair growth. Also totally gluten free.
So supplements aren't really key here.
I was on Estrogel for a couple of years (put on it at age 48, just turned 50). The reason I was put on it was to deal with hot flushes. In recent months, I have been losing a lot of hair. I have tried supplementing vitamins and minerals without success. I then decided to try to wean off Estrogel as I have been putting on weight lately, especially around my waist, and read that excess estrogen can cause that.
After a couple of weeks off Estrogel, I noticed that I was losing noticeably less hair, and now, after a month, it's stopped.
Interestingly enough, the hot flushes have not returned, so I am now only using progesterone cream.
Ya, it's a mind field. I was put on it try to treat my thyroid but Gp"s don't have the sense to know that hormone treatment will unbalanced the thyroid.
I know what you mean...the problem is that all hormones interact so imbalances can really wreak havoc on our bodies. There is a lot of expertise in this forum so I hope someone will be able to help you!
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