Effects of Hormones and Endocrine Disorders on Hair Growth

December 2022 in “ Cureus ”

Rishi Hasan, Husain Juma, Fatema A Eid, Hawra A Alaswad, Walaa M Ali, Fatima J Aladraj

TLDR Hormones significantly influence hair growth, with conditions like hirsutism and patterned hair loss linked to hormone levels; more research is needed for full understanding.

The document discusses the impact of various hormones on hair growth and the association of different endocrine disorders with hair changes. Androgens, the primary regulators of hair growth, interact with receptors in dermal papilla cells (DPCs) to change vellus hairs into terminal hairs. Oestrogens, produced from androgens, affect hair follicle changes and are necessary for the development of pubic and axillary hair in females. Growth hormone enhances androgen's influence on sexual hair growth. Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) stimulate hair development and work with androgens. Prolactin promotes hair shaft lengthening in females and induces catagen in male occipital scalp hair follicles. Melatonin regulates the rhythm of various physiological systems and affects hair pigmentation and growth. Cortisol affects the function and cyclic regulation of the hair follicle, with high levels linked to a decrease in the formation and early breakdown of hair follicle modulators. Thyroid hormone regulates the hair cycle's frequency. Endocrine conditions causing abnormal/excessive hair growth include hirsutism and hypertrichosis, while patterned hair loss in both males and females is closely associated with sex hormones level. The document concludes that more comprehensive evidence and research are needed to understand the whole process of hormonal effect on the hair cycle.

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Research cited in this study

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Experts recommend using evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat hirsutism, focusing on symptoms and underlying causes.

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Hirsutism can be caused by various conditions besides PCOS, and it's important to treat the underlying issue and manage symptoms with medication and cosmetic approaches.

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Baldness is more common in Chinese men than women, increasing with age, and is influenced by genetics.

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36 citations, November 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

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Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

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128 citations, March 2006 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Prolactin contributes to hair loss by promoting hair follicle shrinkage and cell death.

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Different women's hair and skin glands respond to hormones in varied ways, which can cause unwanted hair growth even with normal hormone levels, and more research is needed to treat this effectively.

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Hair loss needs more research for better treatments.

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Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that can resolve on its own or become chronic, with treatment depending on early diagnosis.

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Understanding hair follicle development can help treat hair loss, skin regeneration, and certain skin cancers.

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