The short answer to your question is yes, testosterone can cause hair loss in women, but not in a direct manner as you might think. Secondly, rest assured that New Look Institute has the solutions you need to resolve any of your individual hair loss issues and restore your hair to its natural beauty. Now let's take a clinical look at how testosterone affects hair loss in women.
Androgenetic Alopecia and Women's Hair Loss
The formal medical term for hormonal hair loss in both men and women is androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male or female pattern baldness. The name is derived from the group of male hormones classified as androgens because until recently, scientists believed that the male sex hormone testosterone was the primary culprit triggering hair loss.
Testosterone and DHT
While testosterone does play a role in hair loss, it is actually a derivative of testosterone known as DHT, dihydrotestosterone, which is the true culprit in hair loss for both men and women. Testosterone converts to DHT when reacting with an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.
Since men have higher levels of the DHT source, testosterone, male pattern baldness tends to be more severe with crowning and severely receding hairlines. Women, with just trace levels of testosterone present for converting to DHT tend to experience more widespread thinning.
DHT and Hair Follicles
DHT is the nemesis of healthy hair follicles. DHT binds to receptors in scalp follicles causing shrinkage to such an extent that they can no longer grow healthy hair. Women have much lower levels of testosterone, but there are other genetic factors controlling the follicle reaction to DHT. Because of these genetic factors, sensitivity to DHT tends to run in the family. Inherited high sensitivity can cause hair loss for women in these cases even when DHT is present only at low trace levels.
Hormonal Balance and DHT in Women
The male hormones present in both sexes, the androgens, are balanced in women by the counteracting female hormones, such as estrogen. If the hormonal balance is affected by lowered levels of the female hormones the male hormones can have a distinct advantage, producing more DHT as the result of the unchecked androgen levels.
Lowered levels of the female hormones can occur in women experiencing thyroid disease, menopause, or even cessation of hormonal birth control. Birth control medications simulate the naturally high estrogen levels of pregnancy. Similarly, some women may experience brittle hair or thinning after pregnancy due to the sudden drop in estrogen levels which were elevated during pregnancy.
The good news for women experiencing androgenetic alopecia or other causes of hair loss is that New Look Institute has the latest technologies and proven solutions available to restore lost hair.
Hair Restoration For Women
There is absolutely no reason for any woman to accept thinning hair as an inevitable fact of life. At New Look Institute we can provide access to the most effective hair restoration systems available for women. These include the world-leading brands Virtuesse and CRLAB (formerly known as Cesare Ragazzi Laboratories).
All of these advanced non-invasive techniques use 100% genuine human hair. The maintenance is no more complicated than your usual day-to-day hair upkeep, and these proven hair replacement systems give you the amazing results you need to achieve the appearance you desire.
Hair Loss Prevention and Regrowth
As our discussion about DHT and hair loss has explained, healthy hair is dependent on a healthy scalp and follicles. Our hair loss prevention techniques focus attention on fostering optimal follicle health to prevent hair loss and encourage regrowth. Solutions range from advanced low-level laser hair therapy to stimulate blood circulation to the follicles to topical hair solutions which address troublesome scalp conditions.
At New Look Institute we determine the most effective treatments on an individual, case-by-case basis. Our expert certified trichology practitioners provide a thorough evaluation to ensure that every client has access to the best solutions to maintain a healthy scalp and beautiful hair.
Our San Jose studio has two decades of experience providing hair loss solutions for those clients who come to us for a free consultation, so don't hesitate to contact us today.
