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Experiencing hair loss

by Kim Cook
(Atlanta, Georgia)

I just ordered your progesterone cream but I have a few questions.

I have been using other brands of natural progesterone which alleviated my hot flashes and moodiness but I have been experiencing hair loss that has not gotten better over the past 2-3 years. I have not noticed a change in it with the progesterone. Am I not using enough?

Also I am a vegetarian but have been taking fish oil, B vitamins, and a multivitamin. Do you have any other advice? My labs recently revealed very low progesterone and normal estrogen. I was told my thyroid was normal also. Thank you for your help.

Comments for Experiencing hair loss

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May 02, 2011
 Hair Loss
by: ROBYN

Hi Kim I have had the same problem for about four or five years with my hair getting slowly thinner. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos after many years of going to the Dr complaining of hair loss etc etc. I finally got on to the website of STOPTHETHYROIDMADNESS and aquired quite a lot of info, also the tests to ask for .I have to say that wasn't easy. Drs don't have much of an idea in this area.

I have also started taking Vit D, on Wray's advice (tests revealed very low level) and have also increased my progesterone to 250m of the 10% cream. I do have low adrenal function also but am happy to say I am managing quite well without any medication. What I have found helpful for my hair loss is ORGANIC MACA POWDER.

Good Luck.
May 09, 2011
 Hair loss
by: Wray

Hi Kim Hair loss has baffled researchers for years, there are now dozens of theories. Plus many, many studies have been done, but as yet no one knows why it occurs. Although a few causes have been found, they don't cover the majority of cases. The ones which stand out for me are excess testosterone, insulin resistance, stress and a lack of blood flow to the hair follicle which prevents nutrients reaching the growing shaft. Each month women make more testosterone than oestrogen, but luckily most of it is converted to oestrogen. The enzyme aromatase effects the conversion, but as we get older this conversion seems to slow. So we end up with more testosterone than needed, hence the scalp hair loss and facial hair women in peri-menopause and menopause experience. In fact the menopausal ovary is an androgen producing organ, see here. Another conversion takes place, this is governed by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is implicated in alopecia. Progesterone inhibits 5 alpha-reductase activity by 97 +/- 5.3%, see here. I recommend 100-200mg/day, this is generally sufficient to suppress any excess testosterone or oestrogen. Both these hormones can cause Insulin Resistance, implicated in hair loss. Stress causes hair loss, progesterone is very calming, thus reducing the stress response, see our page on Anxiety. Progesterone is a vasodilator, plus it prevents platelets aggregating, so enhancing blood flow. This would allow nutrients to get where they are needed. Oestrogen on the other hand causes clotting, and constricts the smooth muscle found in blood vessels. Please see these further papers here, here and here. I've run out of space, so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
May 09, 2011
 Hair loss
by: Wray

Hi Kim There are a number of nutrients which help hair growth, please consider taking 5000iu's/day vitamin D, 2000mg/day N-actyl cysteine, 2000mg/day inositol, 2-3mg biotin and 100mg thiamine (B1). Iron is needed, please check your levels before taking any, and there is some evidence the amino acid lysine is beneficial too, see here. Vitamin D is vital for the anagen phase of hair growth, see here, here and here. Please consider having a test done, for more info see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. Before increasing the amount of progesterone you are using, please read our page on Oestrogen Dominance first. Take care Wray
May 09, 2011
 Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi Robyn Thanks again for your input. I'm curious you find maca helps the loss, I must look into it. Although interestingly it does reduce anxiety and depression, and as stress causes hair loss, this might account for it, see here. Very pleased you had the vitamin D test done, and you're now taking it. Take care Wray

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