It’s normal to shed anywhere from 50 to 100 hair strands in a day. Shedding usually doesn’t affect how thick or healthy your hair looks. In fact, it’s an essential part of the hair-growth process. If you shed too much hair, you may notice temporary thinness or changes in your hair’s appearance. Excessive shedding usually goes away over time and causes no permanent hair loss.
Hair loss is different. When you experience hair loss, your tresses stop growing altogether because something has disrupted their growth cycle. Bald spots and thinness can become permanent if the root cause of hair loss isn’t addressed. But what causes hair loss?
Changes in hormone levels are a primary culprit in hair loss. Women of reproductive age can experience excess shedding or hair loss during pregnancy, after pregnancy, or when using birth control. If you’ve noticed hair loss or shedding while on hormonal birth control or after stopping birth control, you aren’t alone.
Understanding How Birth Control Works
Birth control pills and some other contraceptives rely on hormones to prevent pregnancy and reduce unwanted menstrual symptoms. Estrogen and progesterone are the most commonly used hormones. Birth control pills work by preventing estrogen levels from surging so that the ovary doesn’t release an egg. They also thicken cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg if one is released.
All of these types of birth control use hormones to control a woman’s menstrual cycle:
Birth control pills
Shots
Patches
Vaginal rings
Is There a Connection Between Birth Control and Hair Loss?
The hormones that birth control uses to control your menstrual cycle can also impact your body’s androgen levels. High androgen levels interrupt the hair’s regular growth phase, leading to faster-than-normal hair shedding. New strands won’t grow in their place as long as androgen levels in the body are too high.
Hormonal birth control is especially likely to cause hair loss in women who have family histories of androgen-related hair issues. Having a baby or going off birth control can also affect androgen levels, leading to temporary hair loss. Doctors often recommend low-androgen birth control pills to women who experience shedding or hair loss related to birth control.
Protecting Hair Health on Hormonal Birth Control
Choosing a low-androgen pill is just one way to protect hair health if you use hormonal birth control. You can also prevent excess shedding and hair loss by:
Eating a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Supplementing with vitamins and minerals to address any nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to or worsen hair loss.
Being gentle when washing, brushing, and combing your hair.
Avoiding heat styling and pulling hair tight when possible.
Minimizing overall stress levels.
Life is stressful enough without the added frustration of hair loss or excessive shedding. You don’t have to accept hair problems caused by hormonal birth control. If you’re dealing with hair loss, Custom Hair can help. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
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